Expression of SNAP-25 during mammalian retinal development: thinking outside the synapse

SNAP-25, but not SNAP-23, is essential for photoreceptor development, survival, and function in mice

SNARE-mediated vesicular transport is thought to play roles in photoreceptor glutamate exocytosis and photopigment delivery. However, the functions of Synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP) isoforms in photoreceptors are unknown. Here, we revisit the expression of SNAP-23 and SNAP-25 and generate photoreceptor-specific knockout mice to investigate their roles. Although we find that SNAP-23 shows weak mRNA expression in photoreceptors, SNAP-23 removal does not affect retinal morphology or vision. SNAP-25 mRNA is developmentally regulated and undergoes mRNA trafficking to photoreceptor inner segments at postnatal day 9 (P9). SNAP-25 knockout photoreceptors develop normally until P9 but degenerate by P14 resulting in severe retinal thinning. Photoreceptor loss in SNAP-25 knockout mice is associated with abolished electroretinograms and vision loss. We find mistrafficked photopigments, enlarged synaptic vesicles, and abnormal synaptic ribbons which potentially underlie photoreceptor degeneration. Our results conclude that SNAP-25, but not SNAP-23, mediates photopigment delivery and synaptic functioning required for photoreceptor development, survival, and function.

Proteomic Analysis of Retinal Conditioned Medium: The Effect on Early Differentiation of Embyonic Stem Cells into Retina

Stem cell replacement therapy has emerged as one of the most promising treatment options for retinal degenerative diseases, which are the main causes of irreversible vision loss. Three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoid culture is a cutting-edge technology for differentiating embryonic stem cells into retinal cells by forming a laminated retinal structure. However, 3D culture systems have strict requirements with respect to the experimental environment and culture technologies. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of retinal conditioned medium (RCM) at different developmental stages on the early differentiation of embryonic stem cells into retina in a 3D culture system. Here, we added RCM to the 3D culture system and found it could promote the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) into neuroretina. We further explored the possible mechanisms of RCM that regulate differentiation through proteomic analysis. RCM at different time points disclosed different protein profiles. Proteins which improved energy metabolism of mESCs might help improve the viability of embryonic bodies (EBs). We then screened out Snap25, Cntn1, Negr1, Dpysl2, Dpysl3, and Crmp1 as candidate proteins that might play roles in the differentiation and neurogenesis processes of mESCs, hoping to provide a basis for optimizing a retinal differentiation protocol from embryonic stem cells.

Exposing primary rat retina cell cultures to γ-rays: An in vitro model for evaluating radiation responses

Retinal tissue can receive incidental γ-rays exposure during radiotherapy either of tumors of the eye and optic nerve or of head-and-neck tumors, and during medical diagnostic procedures. Healthy retina is therefore at risk of suffering radiation-related side effects and the knowledge of pathophysiological response of retinal cells to ionizing radiations could be useful to design possible strategies of prevention and management of radiotoxicity. In this study, we have exploited an in vitro model (primary rat retinal cell culture) to study an array of biological effects induced on retinal neurons by γ-rays. Most of the different cell types present in retinal tissue - either of the neuronal or glial lineages - are preserved in primary rat retinal cultures. Similar to the retina in situ, neuronal cells undergo in vitro a maturational development shown by the formation of polarized neuritic trees and operating synapses. Since 2 Gy is the incidental dose received by the healthy retina per fraction when the standard treatment is delivered to the brain, retina cell cultures have been exposed to 1 or 2 Gy of γ-rays at different level of neuronal differentiation in vitro: days in vitro (DIV)2 or DIV8. At DIV9, retinal cultures were analyzed in terms of viability, apoptosis and characterized by immunocytochemistry to identify alterations in neuronal differentiation. After irradiation at DIV2, MTT assay revealed an evident loss of cell viability and βIII-tubulin immunostaining highlighted a marked neuritic damage, indicating that survived neurons showed an impaired differentiation. Differentiated cultures (DIV8) appeared to be more resistant with respect to undifferentiated, DIV2 cultures, both in terms of cell viability and differentiation. Apoptosis evaluated with TUNEL assay showed that irradiation at both DIV2 and DIV8 induced a significant increase in the apoptotic rate. To further investigate the effects of γ-rays on retinal neurons, we evaluated the expression of synaptic proteins, such as SNAP25 and synaptophysin. WB and immunofluorescence analysis showed an altered expression of these proteins in particular when cultures were irradiated at DIV2. To evaluate the effect of γ-rays on photoreceptors, we studied the expression of rhodopsin in WB analysis and immunofluorescence. Our results confirm data from the literature that differentiated photoreceptors appear to be more resistant to irradiation respect to other retinal cell types present in cultures. The results obtained suggest that γ-rays exposure of primary retinal cultures may contribute to shed further light on the mechanisms involved in γ-radiation-induced neurodegeneration.

Identification of genome-wide SNP-SNP and SNP-clinical Boolean interactions in age-related macular degeneration

We propose here a methodology to uncover modularities in the network of SNP-SNP interactions most associated with disease. We start by computing all possible Boolean binary SNP interactions across the whole genome. By constructing a weighted graph of the most relevant interactions and via a combinatorial optimization approach, we find the most highly interconnected SNPs. We show that the method can be easily extended to find SNP/environment interactions. Using a modestly sized GWAS dataset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we identify a group of only 19 SNPs, which include those in previously reported regions associated to AMD. We also uncover a larger set of loci pointing to a matrix of key processes and functions that are affected. The proposed integrative methodology extends and overlaps traditional statistical analysis in a natural way. Combinatorial optimization techniques allow us to find the kernel of the most central interactions, complementing current methods of GWAS analysis and also enhancing the search for gene-environment interaction.

miR-153 regulates SNAP-25, synaptic transmission, and neuronal development

SNAP-25 is a core component of the trimeric SNARE complex mediating vesicle exocytosis during membrane addition for neuronal growth, neuropeptide/growth factor secretion, and neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission. Here, we report a novel microRNA mechanism of SNAP-25 regulation controlling motor neuron development, neurosecretion, synaptic activity, and movement in zebrafish. Loss of miR-153 causes overexpression of SNAP-25 and consequent hyperactive movement in early zebrafish embryos. Conversely, overexpression of miR-153 causes SNAP-25 down regulation resulting in near complete paralysis, mimicking the effects of treatment with Botulinum neurotoxin. miR-153-dependent changes in synaptic activity at the neuromuscular junction are consistent with the observed movement defects. Underlying the movement defects, perturbation of miR-153 function causes dramatic developmental changes in motor neuron patterning and branching. Together, our results indicate that precise control of SNAP-25 expression by miR-153 is critically important for proper neuronal patterning as well as neurotransmission.

SNAP25 expression in mammalian retinal horizontal cells

Horizontal cells mediate inhibitory feedforward and feedback lateral interactions in the outer retina at photoreceptor terminals and bipolar cell dendrites; however, the mechanisms that underlie synaptic transmission from mammalian horizontal cells are poorly understood. The localization of a vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter (VGAT) to horizontal cell processes in primate and rodent retinae suggested that mammalian horizontal cells release transmitter in a vesicular manner. Toward determining whether the molecular machinery for vesicular transmitter release is present in horizontal cells, we investigated the expression of SNAP25 (synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa), a key SNARE protein, by immunocytochemistry with cell type-specific markers in the retinae of mouse, rat, rabbit, and monkey. Different commercial antibodies to SNAP25 were tested on vertical sections of retina. We report the robust expression of SNAP25 in both plexiform layers. Double labeling with SNAP25 and calbindin antibodies demonstrated that horizontal cell processes and their endings in photoreceptor triad synapses were strongly labeled for both proteins in mouse, rat, rabbit, and monkey retinae. Double labeling with parvalbumin antibodies in monkey retina verified SNAP25 immunoreactivity in all horizontal cells. Pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy in rabbit retina confirmed expression of SNAP25 in lateral elements within photoreceptor triad synapses. The SNAP25 immunoreactivity in the plexiform layers and outer nuclear layer fell into at least three patterns depending on the antibody, suggesting a differential distribution of SNAP25 isoforms. The presence of SNAP25a and SNAP25b isoforms in mouse retina was established by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. SNAP25 expression in mammalian horizontal cells along with other SNARE proteins is consistent with vesicular exocytosis.

Syntaxin 3 and SNAP-25 pairing, regulated by omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid, controls the delivery of rhodopsin for the biogenesis of cilia-derived sensory organelles, the rod outer segments

The biogenesis of cilia-derived sensory organelles, the photoreceptor rod outer segments (ROS), is mediated by rhodopsin transport carriers (RTCs). The small GTPase Rab8 regulates ciliary targeting of RTCs, but their specific fusion sites have not been characterized. Here, we report that the Sec6/8 complex, or exocyst, is a candidate effector for Rab8. We also show that the Qa-SNARE syntaxin 3 is present in the rod inner segment (RIS) plasma membrane at the base of the cilium and displays a microtubule-dependent concentration gradient, whereas the Qbc-SNARE SNAP-25 is uniformly distributed in the RIS plasma membrane and the synapse. Treatment with omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6(n-3)] causes increased co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization of SNAP-25 and syntaxin 3 at the base of the cilium, which results in the increased delivery of membrane to the ROS. This is particularly evident in propranolol-treated retinas, in which the DHA-mediated increase in SNARE pairing overcomes the tethering block, including dissociation of Sec8 into the cytosol. Together, our data indicate that the Sec6/8 complex, syntaxin 3 and SNAP-25 regulate rhodopsin delivery, probably by mediating docking and fusion of RTCs. We show further that DHA, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid of the ROS, increases pairing of syntaxin 3 and SNAP-25 to regulate expansion of the ciliary membrane and ROS biogenesis.

Status and applications of genomic resources for the gray, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, an American marsupial model for comparative biology

Owing to its small size, favourable reproductive characteristics, and simple husbandry, the gray, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, has become the most widely distributed and intensively utilised laboratory-bred research marsupial in the world today. This article provides an overview of the current state and future projections of genomic resources for this species and discusses the potential impact of this growing resource base on active research areas that use M. domestica as a model system. The resources discussed include: fully arrayed, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries; an expanding linkage map; developing full-genome BAC-contig and chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridisation maps; public websites providing access to the M. domestica whole-genome-shotgun sequence trace database and the whole-genome sequence assembly; and a new project underway to create an expressed-sequence database and microchip expression arrays for functional genomics applications. Major research areas discussed span a variety of genetic, evolutionary, physiologic, reproductive, developmental, and behavioural topics, including: comparative immunogenetics; genomic imprinting; reproductive biology; neurobiology; photobiology and carcinogenesis; genetics of lipoprotein metabolism; developmental and behavioural endocrinology; sexual differentiation and development; embryonic and fetal development; meiotic recombination; genome evolution; molecular evolution and phylogenetics; and more.

Rb regulates proliferation and rod photoreceptor development in the mouse retina

The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) regulates proliferation, cell fate specification and differentiation in the developing central nervous system (CNS), but the role of Rb in the developing mouse retina has not been studied, because Rb-deficient embryos die before the retinas are fully formed. We combined several genetic approaches to explore the role of Rb in the mouse retina. During postnatal development, Rb is expressed in proliferating retinal progenitor cells and differentiating rod photoreceptors. In the absence of Rb, progenitor cells continue to divide, and rods do not mature. To determine whether Rb functions in these processes in a cell-autonomous manner, we used a replication-incompetent retrovirus encoding Cre recombinase to inactivate the Rb1(lox) allele in individual retinal progenitor cells in vivo. Combined with data from studies of conditional inactivation of Rb1 using a combination of Cre transgenic mouse lines, these results show that Rb is required in a cell-autonomous manner for appropriate exit from the cell cycle of retinal progenitor cells and for rod development.

The expression pattern and assembly profile of synaptic membrane proteins in ribbon synapses of the developing mouse retina

In the present study, we generated a systematic overview of the expression pattern and assembly profile of synaptic membrane proteins in ribbon synapses of the developing mouse retina. Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of 11 important membrane and membrane-associated synaptic proteins (syntaxin 1/3, SNAP-25, synaptobrevin 2, synaptogyrin, synaptotagmin I, SV2A, SV2B, Rab3A, clathrin light chains, CSP and neuroligin I) during synaptogenesis. The temporospatial distribution of these synaptic proteins was "normalized" by the simultaneous visualization of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin, which served as an internal reference protein. We found that expression of various synaptic membrane proteins started at different time points and changed progressively during development. At early stages of development synaptic vesicle membrane proteins at extrasynaptic locations did not always colocalize with synaptophysin, indicating that these proteins probably do not reside in the same transport vesicles. Despite a non-synchronized onset of protein expression, clustering and colocalization of all synaptic membrane proteins at ribbon synapses roughly occurred in the same time window (between day 4 after birth, P4, and P5). Thus, the basic synaptic membrane machinery is already present in ribbon synapses before the well-known complete morphological maturation of ribbon synapses between P7 and P12. We conclude that ribbon synapse formation is a multistep process in which the concerted recruitment of synaptic membrane proteins is a relatively early event and clearly not the final step.