An ER-resident membrane protein complex regulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit composition at the synapse

Exploring the molecular composition of the multipass translocon in its native membrane environment

Multispanning membrane proteins are inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by the ribosome-bound multipass translocon (MPT) machinery. Based on cryo-electron tomography and extensive subtomogram analysis, we reveal the composition and arrangement of ribosome-bound MPT components in their native membrane environment. The intramembrane chaperone complex PAT and the translocon-associated protein (TRAP) complex associate substoichiometrically with the MPT in a translation-dependent manner. Although PAT is preferentially part of MPTs bound to translating ribosomes, the abundance of TRAP is highest in MPTs associated with non-translating ribosomes. The subtomogram average of the TRAP-containing MPT reveals intermolecular contacts between the luminal domains of TRAP and an unknown subunit of the back-of-Sec61 complex. AlphaFold modeling suggests this protein is nodal modulator, bridging the luminal domains of nicalin and TRAPα. Collectively, our results visualize the variability of MPT factors in the native membrane environment dependent on the translational activity of the bound ribosome.

A nematode model to evaluate microdeletion phenotype expression

Microdeletion syndromes are genetic diseases caused by multilocus chromosomal deletions too small to be detected by karyotyping. They are typified by complex pleiotropic developmental phenotypes that depend both on the extent of the deletion and variations in genetic background. Microdeletion alleles cause a wide array of consequences involving multiple pathways. How simultaneous haploinsufficiency of numerous adjacent genes leads to complex and variable pleiotropic phenotypes is not well understood. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has been shown to induce microdeletion-like alleles at a meaningful rate. Here, we describe a microdeletion allele in Caenorhabditis elegans recovered during a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing experiment. We mapped the allele to chromosome V, balanced it with a reciprocal translocation crossover suppressor, and precisely defined the breakpoint junction. The allele simultaneously removes 32 protein-coding genes, yet animals homozygous for this mutation are viable as adults. Homozygous animals display a complex phenotype including maternal effect lethality, producing polynucleated embryos that grow into uterine tumors, vulva morphogenesis defects, body wall distensions, uncoordinated movement, and a shortened life span typified by death by bursting. Our work provides an opportunity to explore the complexity and penetrance of microdeletion phenotypes in a simple genetic model system.

TGF-β pathways in aging and immunity: lessons from Caenorhabditis elegans

The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of signaling molecules plays critical roles in development, differentiation, homeostasis, and disease. Due to the conservation of these ligands and their signaling pathways, genetic studies in invertebrate systems including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been instrumental in identifying signaling mechanisms. C. elegans is also a premier organism for research in longevity and healthy aging. Here we summarize current knowledge on the roles of TGF-β signaling in aging and immunity.

The diverse family of Cys-loop receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans: insights from electrophysiological studies

Cys-loop receptors integrate a large family of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast ionotropic responses in vertebrates and invertebrates. Their vital role in converting neurotransmitter recognition into an electrical impulse makes these receptors essential for a great variety of physiological processes. In vertebrates, the Cys-loop receptor family includes the cation-selective channels, nicotinic acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptors, and the anion-selective channels, GABAA and glycine receptors, whereas in invertebrates, the repertoire is significantly larger. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has the largest known Cys-loop receptor family as well as unique receptors that are absent in vertebrates and constitute attractive targets for anthelmintic drugs. Given the large number and variety of Cys-loop receptor subunits and the multiple possible ways of subunit assembly, C. elegans offers a large diversity of receptors although only a limited number of them have been characterized to date. C. elegans has emerged as a powerful model for the study of the nervous system and human diseases as well as a model for antiparasitic drug discovery. This nematode has also shown promise in the pharmaceutical industry search for new therapeutic compounds. C. elegans is therefore a powerful model organism to explore the biology and pharmacology of Cys-loop receptors and their potential as targets for novel therapeutic interventions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the function of C. elegans Cys-loop receptors from an electrophysiological perspective.

Structural insights into the membrane chaperones for multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis

Certain transmembrane α-helices of multi-pass membrane proteins line substrate transport paths or catalytic pockets and, therefore, are partially hydrophilic. Sec61 alone is insufficient to insert these less hydrophobic segments into the membrane and needs to work with dedicated membrane chaperones. Three such membrane chaperones have been described in the literature-the endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex (EMC), the TMCO1 complex, and the PAT complex. Recent structural studies on these membrane chaperones have revealed their overall architecture, multi-subunit assembly, putative substrate transmembrane helix-binding pockets, and cooperative mechanisms with the ribosome and Sec61 translocon. These structures are providing initial insights into the poorly understood processes of multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis.

Reconstitution of an N-AChR from Brugia malayi an evolved change in acetylcholine receptor accessory protein requirements in filarial parasites

Neurotransmission is an important target for anthelmintic drugs, where receptor characteristics and response can be examined through reconstitution ex vivo in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The homomeric ACR-16 nicotine sensitive acetylcholine receptors (N-AChRs) of several helminth species have been characterized in this way. Our efforts to reconstitute the N-AChR from the clade III filarial parasite, Brugia malayi using similar conditions, initially produced no detectable response. A robust response to acetylcholine is obtained from the closely related clade III parasite Ascaris suum, suggesting that specific changes have occurred between Ascaris and Brugia. N-AChRs from three species intermediate between A. suum and B. malayi were characterized to provide information on the cause. Maximal response to acetylcholine did not change abruptly, consistent with a discrete event, but rather decreased progressively from A. suum through Dracunculus medinensis, Gonglylonema pulchrum and Thelazia callipaeda. Receptor responses to the characteristic nicotine, and other agonists were generally similar. The decrease in maximal current did correlate with a delayed time to reach larger response. Together, this suggested that the failure to reconstitute the B. malayi N-AChR was one extreme of a progressive decrease and that an issue with synthesis of the receptor in oocytes was responsible. Addition of accessory proteins EMC-6, NRA-2 and NRA-4, in addition to RIC-3, produced a small, but measurable B. malayi N-AChR response. Pharmacological properties of a chimeric B. malayi N-AChR were equivalent to the other species, confirming the receptor response remains unchanged while its production is increasingly dependent on accessory proteins. One possibility is that loss of many subunits for acetylcholine receptors from the filarial nematode genome is linked to new subunit combinations that lead to such a dependence. This novel phylogenetic approach allowed the first characterization of a B. malayi AChR ex vivo and in doing so, provides a framework for the successful characterization of other receptors that have yet to be reconstituted.

Cholinergic signaling at the body wall neuromuscular junction distally inhibits feeding behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

Complex biological functions within organisms are frequently orchestrated by systemic communication between tissues. In the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the pharyngeal and body wall neuromuscular junctions are two discrete structures that control feeding and locomotion, respectively. Separate, the well-defined neuromuscular circuits control these distinct tissues. Nonetheless, the emergent behaviors, feeding and locomotion, are coordinated to guarantee the efficiency of food intake. Here, we show that pharmacological hyperactivation of cholinergic transmission at the body wall muscle reduces the rate of pumping behavior. This was evidenced by a systematic screening of the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb on the rate of pharyngeal pumping on food in mutant worms. The screening revealed that the key determinants of the inhibitory effect of aldicarb on pharyngeal pumping are located at the body wall neuromuscular junction. In fact, the selective stimulation of the body wall muscle receptors with the agonist levamisole inhibited pumping in a lev-1-dependent fashion. Interestingly, this response was independent of unc-38, an alpha subunit of the nicotinic receptor classically expressed with lev-1 at the body wall muscle. This implies an uncharacterized lev-1-containing receptor underpins this effect. Overall, our results reveal that body wall cholinergic transmission not only controls locomotion but simultaneously inhibits feeding behavior.

An economical and highly adaptable optogenetics system for individual and population-level manipulation of Caenorhabditis elegans

Background

Optogenetics allows the experimental manipulation of excitable cells by a light stimulus without the need for technically challenging and invasive procedures. The high degree of spatial, temporal, and intensity control that can be achieved with a light stimulus, combined with cell type-specific expression of light-sensitive ion channels, enables highly specific and precise stimulation of excitable cells. Optogenetic tools have therefore revolutionized the study of neuronal circuits in a number of models, including Caenorhabditis elegans. Despite the existence of several optogenetic systems that allow spatial and temporal photoactivation of light-sensitive actuators in C. elegans, their high costs and low flexibility have limited wide access to optogenetics. Here, we developed an inexpensive, easy-to-build, modular, and adjustable optogenetics device for use on different microscopes and worm trackers, which we called the OptoArm.

Results

The OptoArm allows for single- and multiple-worm illumination and is adaptable in terms of light intensity, lighting profiles, and light color. We demonstrate OptoArm’s power in a population-based multi-parameter study on the contributions of motor circuit cells to age-related motility decline. We found that individual components of the neuromuscular system display different rates of age-dependent deterioration. The functional decline of cholinergic neurons mirrors motor decline, while GABAergic neurons and muscle cells are relatively age-resilient, suggesting that rate-limiting cells exist and determine neuronal circuit ageing.

Conclusion

We have assembled an economical, reliable, and highly adaptable optogenetics system which can be deployed to address diverse biological questions. We provide a detailed description of the construction as well as technical and biological validation of our set-up. Importantly, use of the OptoArm is not limited to C. elegans and may benefit studies in multiple model organisms, making optogenetics more accessible to the broader research community.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01085-2.

Anthelmintic resistance and homeostatic plasticity (Brugia malayi)

Homeostatic plasticity refers to the capacity of excitable cells to regulate their activity to make compensatory adjustments to long-lasting stimulation. It is found across the spectrum of vertebrate and invertebrate species and is driven by changes in cytosolic calcium; it has not been explored in parasitic nematodes when treated with therapeutic drugs. Here we have studied the adaptation of Brugia malayi to exposure to the anthelmintic, levamisole that activates muscle AChR ion-channels. We found three phases of the Brugia malayi motility responses as they adapted to levamisole: an initial spastic paralysis; a flaccid paralysis that follows; and finally, a recovery of motility with loss of sensitivity to levamisole at 4 h. Motility, calcium-imaging, patch-clamp and molecular experiments showed the muscle AChRs are dynamic with mechanisms that adjust their subtype composition and sensitivity to levamisole. This homeostatic plasticity allows the parasite to adapt resisting the anthelmintic.

Nuclear lipid droplets and nuclear damage in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fat stored in the form of lipid droplets has long been considered a defining characteristic of cytoplasm. However, recent studies have shown that nuclear lipid droplets occur in multiple cells and tissues, including in human patients with fatty liver disease. The function(s) of stored fat in the nucleus has not been determined, and it is possible that nuclear fat is beneficial in some situations. Conversely, nuclear lipid droplets might instead be deleterious by disrupting nuclear organization or triggering aggregation of hydrophobic proteins. We show here that nuclear lipid droplets occur normally in C. elegans intestinal cells and germ cells, but appear to be associated with damage only in the intestine. Lipid droplets in intestinal nuclei can be associated with novel bundles of microfilaments (nuclear actin) and membrane tubules that might have roles in damage repair. To increase the normal, low frequency of nuclear lipid droplets in wild-type animals, we used a forward genetic screen to isolate mutants with abnormally large or abundant nuclear lipid droplets. Genetic analysis and cloning of three such mutants showed that the genes encode the lipid regulator SEIP-1/seipin, the inner nuclear membrane protein NEMP-1/Nemp1/TMEM194A, and a component of COPI vesicles called COPA-1/α-COP. We present several lines of evidence that the nuclear lipid droplet phenotype of copa-1 mutants results from a defect in retrieving mislocalized membrane proteins that normally reside in the endoplasmic reticulum. The seip-1 mutant causes most germ cells to have nuclear lipid droplets, the largest of which occupy more than a third of the nuclear volume. Nevertheless, the nuclear lipid droplets do not trigger apoptosis, and the germ cells differentiate into gametes that produce viable, healthy progeny. Thus, our results suggest that nuclear lipid droplets are detrimental to intestinal nuclei, but have no obvious deleterious effect on germ nuclei.

Cholinergic transmission in C. elegans: Functions, diversity, and maturation of ACh-activated ion channels

Acetylcholine is an abundant neurotransmitter in all animals. Effects of acetylcholine are excitatory, inhibitory, or modulatory depending on the receptor and cell type. Research using the nematode C. elegans has made ground-breaking contributions to the mechanistic understanding of cholinergic transmission. Powerful genetic screens for behavioral mutants or for responses to pharmacological reagents identified the core cellular machinery for synaptic transmission. Pharmacological reagents that perturb acetylcholine-mediated processes led to the discovery and also uncovered the composition and regulators of acetylcholine-activated channels and receptors. From a combination of electrophysiological and molecular cellular studies, we have gained a profound understanding of cholinergic signaling at the levels of synapses, neural circuits, and animal behaviors. This review will begin with a historical overview, then cover in-depth current knowledge on acetylcholine-activated ionotropic receptors, mechanisms regulating their functional expression and their functions in regulating locomotion.

An ER translocon for multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis

Membrane proteins with multiple transmembrane domains play critical roles in cell physiology, but little is known about the machinery coordinating their biogenesis at the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we describe a ~ 360 kDa ribosome-associated complex comprising the core Sec61 channel and five accessory factors: TMCO1, CCDC47 and the Nicalin-TMEM147-NOMO complex. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals a large assembly at the ribosome exit tunnel organized around a central membrane cavity. Similar to protein-conducting channels that facilitate movement of transmembrane segments, cytosolic and luminal funnels in TMCO1 and TMEM147, respectively, suggest routes into the central membrane cavity. High-throughput mRNA sequencing shows selective translocon engagement with hundreds of different multi-pass membrane proteins. Consistent with a role in multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis, cells lacking different accessory components show reduced levels of one such client, the glutamate transporter EAAT1. These results identify a new human translocon and provide a molecular framework for understanding its role in multi-pass membrane protein biogenesis.

Diisopropylphenyl-imidazole (DII): A new compound that exerts anthelmintic activity through novel molecular mechanisms

Nematode parasites cause substantial morbidity to billions of people and considerable losses in livestock and food crops. The repertoire of effective anthelmintic compounds for treating these parasitoses is very limited, as drug development has been delayed for decades. Moreover, resistance has become a global concern in livestock parasites and is an emerging issue for human helminthiasis. Therefore, anthelmintics with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. Taking advantage of Caenorhabditis elegans as an established model system, we here screened the nematicidal potential of novel imidazolium and imidazole derivatives. One of these derivatives, diisopropylphenyl-imidazole (DII), is lethal to C. elegans at both mature and immature stages. This lethal effect appears to be specific because DII concentrations which prove to be toxic to C. elegans do not induce significant lethality on bacteria, Drosophila melanogaster, and HEK-293 cells. Our analysis of DII action on C. elegans mutant strains determined that, in the adult stage, null mutants of unc-29 are resistant to the drug. Muscle expression of this gene completely restores DII sensitivity. UNC-29 has been largely reported as an essential constituent of the levamisole-sensitive muscle nicotinic receptor (L-AChR). Nevertheless, null mutants in unc-63 and lev-8 (essential and non-essential subunits of L-AChRs, respectively) are as sensitive to DII as the wild-type strain. Therefore, our results suggest that DII effects on adult nematodes rely on a previously unidentified UNC-29-containing muscle AChR, different from the classical L-AChR. Interestingly, DII targets appear to be different between larvae and adults, as unc-29 null mutant larvae are sensitive to the drug. The existence of more than one target could delay resistance development. Its lethality on C. elegans, its harmlessness in non-nematode species and its novel and dual mechanism of action make DII a promising candidate compound for anthelmintic therapy.

Intestinal helminth infections affect approximately one-third of the world’s population, particularly in developing countries. Paradoxically, drug development in this area has been delayed for years. In addition, resistance to currently available drugs is also an emerging global concern. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new and effective anthelmintics. In this work, we used C. elegans as a model for parasitic nematodes to screen the anthelmintic activity of several imidazole-derivative compounds. We found a compound, diisopropylphenyl-imidazole (DII), that is lethal to both mature and immature stages of C. elegans. The DII nematicidal mechanism of action depends on a novel UNC-29-containing AChR in adult C. elegans muscle. Since this mechanism is different from those of currently used anthelmintics, it could constitute a therapeutic option when traditional anthelmintic agents fail. In addition, we found that the DII larvicidal effect depends on a different target to that of adult stages. The fact that DII produces lethality through different targets may delay resistance development. The specificity and novel mode of action of DII, which includes differential targeting in larvae and adult nematodes, support its potential as a promising drug candidate to treat helminthiasis.

The Claudin-like Protein HPO-30 Is Required to Maintain LAChRs at the C. elegans Neuromuscular Junction

Communications across chemical synapses are primarily mediated by neurotransmitters and their postsynaptic receptors. There are diverse molecular systems to localize and regulate the receptors at the synapse. Here, we identify HPO-30, a member of the claudin superfamily of membrane proteins, as a positive regulator for synaptic localization of levamisole-dependent AChRs (LAChRs) at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The HPO-30 protein localizes at the NMJ and shows genetic and physical association with the LAChR subunits LEV-8, UNC-29, and UNC-38. Using genetic and electrophysiological assays in the hermaphrodite C. elegans, we demonstrate that HPO-30 functions through Neuroligin at the NMJ to maintain postsynaptic LAChR levels at the synapse. Together, this work suggests a novel function for a tight junction protein in maintaining normal receptor levels at the NMJ.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Claudins are a large superfamily of membrane proteins. Their role in maintaining the functional integrity of tight junctions has been widely explored. Our experiments suggest a critical role for the claudin-like protein, HPO-30, in maintaining synaptic levamisole-dependent AChR (LAChR) levels. LAChRs contribute to <20% of the acetylcholine-mediated conductance in adult Caenorhabditis elegans; however, they play a significant functional role in worm locomotion. This study provides a new perspective in the study of LAChR physiology.

EMC3 coordinates surfactant protein and lipid homeostasis required for respiration

Adaptation to respiration at birth depends upon the synthesis of pulmonary surfactant, a lipid-protein complex that reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface in the alveoli and prevents lung collapse during the ventilatory cycle. Herein, we demonstrated that the gene encoding a subunit of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane complex, EMC3, also known as TMEM111 (Emc3/Tmem111), was required for murine pulmonary surfactant synthesis and lung function at birth. Conditional deletion of Emc3 in murine embryonic lung epithelial cells disrupted the synthesis and packaging of surfactant lipids and proteins, impaired the formation of lamellar bodies, and induced the unfolded protein response in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells. EMC3 was essential for the processing and routing of surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, and the biogenesis of the phospholipid transport protein ABCA3. Transcriptomic, lipidomic, and proteomic analyses demonstrated that EMC3 coordinates the assembly of lipids and proteins in AT2 cells that is necessary for surfactant synthesis and function at birth.

High-throughput screens using photo-highlighting discover BMP signaling in mitochondrial lipid oxidation

High-throughput screens at microscopic resolution can uncover molecular mechanisms of cellular dynamics, but remain technically challenging in live multicellular organisms. Here we present a genetic screening method using photo-highlighting for candidate selection on microscopes. We apply this method to stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy and systematically identify 57 Caenorhabditis elegans mutants with altered lipid distribution. Four of these mutants target the components of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway, revealing that BMP signaling inactivation causes exhaustion of lipid reserves in somatic tissues. Using SRS-based isotope tracing assay to quantitatively track lipid synthesis and mobilization, we discover that the BMP signaling mutants have increased rates of lipid mobilization. Furthermore, this increase is associated with the induction of mitochondrial β-oxidation and mitochondrial fusion. Together these studies demonstrate a photo-highlighting microscopic strategy for genome-scale screens, leading to the discovery of new roles for BMP signaling in linking mitochondrial homeostasis and lipid metabolism.High-throughput genetic screens in animals could benefit from an easy way to mark positive hits. Here the authors introduce photo-highlighting using a photoconvertible fluorescent protein, and in combination with stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, define a role for BMP signaling in lipid metabolism in C. elegans.

Nicotine affects protein complex rearrangement in Caenorhabditis elegans cells

Nicotine may affect cell function by rearranging protein complexes. We aimed to determine nicotine-induced alterations of protein complexes in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) cells, thereby revealing links between nicotine exposure and protein complex modulation. We compared the proteomic alterations induced by low and high nicotine concentrations (0.01 mM and 1 mM) with the control (no nicotine) in vivo by using mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques, specifically the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) discontinuous gel electrophoresis coupled with liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS and spectral counting. As a result, we identified dozens of C. elegans proteins that are present exclusively or in higher abundance in either nicotine-treated or untreated worms. Based on these results, we report a possible network that captures the key protein components of nicotine-induced protein complexes and speculate how the different protein modules relate to their distinct physiological roles. Using functional annotation of detected proteins, we hypothesize that the identified complexes can modulate the energy metabolism and level of oxidative stress. These proteins can also be involved in modulation of gene expression and may be crucial in Alzheimer's disease. The findings reported in our study reveal putative intracellular interactions of many proteins with the cytoskeleton and may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) signaling and trafficking in cells.

Illuminating neural circuits and behaviour in Caenorhabditis elegans with optogenetics

The development of optogenetics, a family of methods for using light to control neural activity via light-sensitive proteins, has provided a powerful new set of tools for neurobiology. These techniques have been particularly fruitful for dissecting neural circuits and behaviour in the compact and transparent roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. Researchers have used optogenetic reagents to manipulate numerous excitable cell types in the worm, from sensory neurons, to interneurons, to motor neurons and muscles. Here, we show how optogenetics applied to this transparent roundworm has contributed to our understanding of neural circuits.

Metabolome and proteome changes with aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

To expand the understanding of aging in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, global quantification of metabolite and protein levels in young and aged nematodes was performed using mass spectrometry. With age, there was a decreased abundance of proteins functioning in transcription termination, mRNA degradation, mRNA stability, protein synthesis, and proteasomal function. Furthermore, there was altered S-adenosyl methionine metabolism as well as a decreased abundance of the S-adenosyl methionine synthetase (SAMS-1) protein. Other aging-related changes included alterations in free fatty acid levels and composition, decreased levels of ribosomal proteins, decreased levels of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), a shift in the cellular redox state, an increase in sorbitol content, alterations in free amino acid levels, and indications of altered muscle function and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) homeostasis. There were also decreases in pyrimidine and purine metabolite levels, most markedly nitrogenous bases. Supplementing the culture medium with cytidine (a pyrimidine nucleoside) or hypoxanthine (a purine base) increased lifespan slightly, suggesting that aging-induced alterations in ribonucleotide metabolism affect lifespan. An age-related increase in body size, lipotoxicity from ectopic yolk lipoprotein accumulation, a decline in NAD(+) levels, and mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction may explain many of these changes. In addition, dietary restriction in aged worms resulting from sarcopenia of the pharyngeal pump likely decreases the abundance of SAMS-1, possibly leading to decreased phosphatidylcholine levels, larger lipid droplets, and ER and mitochondrial stress. The complementary use of proteomics and metabolomics yielded unique insights into the molecular processes altered with age in C. elegans.

Ganglioside regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking

Gangliosides are major cell-surface determinants on all vertebrate neurons. Human congenital disorders of ganglioside biosynthesis invariably result in intellectual disability and are often associated with intractable seizures. To probe the mechanisms of ganglioside functions, affinity-captured ganglioside-binding proteins from rat cerebellar granule neurons were identified by quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry. Of the six proteins that bound selectively to the major brain ganglioside GT1b (GT1b:GM1 > 4; p < 10(-4)), three regulate neurotransmitter receptor trafficking: Thorase (ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 1), soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (γ-SNAP), and the transmembrane protein Nicalin. Thorase facilitates endocytosis of GluR2 subunit-containing AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) in an ATPase-dependent manner; its deletion in mice results in learning and memory deficits (J. Zhang et al., 2011b). GluR2-containing AMPARs did not bind GT1b, but bound specifically to another ganglioside, GM1. Addition of noncleavable ATP (ATPγS) significantly disrupted ganglioside binding, whereas it enhanced AMPAR association with Thorase, NSF, and Nicalin. Mutant mice lacking GT1b expressed markedly higher brain Thorase, whereas Thorase-null mice expressed higher GT1b. Treatment of cultured hippocampal neurons with sialidase, which cleaves GT1b (and other sialoglycans), resulted in a significant reduction in the size of surface GluR2 puncta. These data support a model in which GM1-bound GluR2-containing AMPARs are functionally segregated from GT1b-bound AMPAR-trafficking complexes. Release of ganglioside binding may enhance GluR2-containing AMPAR association with its trafficking complexes, increasing endocytosis. Disrupting ganglioside biosynthesis may result in reduced synaptic expression of GluR2-contianing AMPARs resulting in intellectual deficits and seizure susceptibility in mice and humans.

Regulation of extracellular matrix organization by BMP signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

In mammals, Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) pathway signaling is important for the growth and homeostasis of extracellular matrix, including basement membrane remodeling, scarring, and bone growth. A conserved BMP member in Caenorhabditis elegans, DBL-1, regulates body length in a dose-sensitive manner. Loss of DBL-1 pathway signaling also results in increased anesthetic sensitivity. However, the physiological basis of these pleiotropic phenotypes is largely unknown. We created a DBL-1 over-expressing strain and show that sensitivity to anesthetics is inversely related to the dose of DBL-1. Using pharmacological, genetic analyses, and a novel dye permeability assay for live, microwave-treated animals, we confirm that DBL-1 is required for the barrier function of the cuticle, a specialized extracellular matrix. We show that DBL-1 signaling is required to prevent animals from forming tail-entangled aggregates in liquid. Stripping lipids off the surface of wild-type animals recapitulates this phenotype. Finally, we find that DBL-1 signaling affects ultrastructure of the nematode cuticle in a dose-dependent manner, as surface lipid content and cuticular organization are disrupted in animals with genetically altered DBL-1 levels. We propose that the lipid layer coating the nematode cuticle normally prevents tail entanglement, and that reduction of this layer by loss of DBL-1 signaling promotes aggregation. This work provides a physiological mechanism that unites the DBL-1 signaling pathway roles of not only body size regulation and drug responsiveness, but also the novel Hoechst 33342 staining and aggregation phenotypes, through barrier function, content, and organization of the cuticle.

Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction: GABA receptors and ivermectin action

The prevalence of human and animal helminth infections remains staggeringly high, thus urging the need for concerted efforts towards this area of research. GABA receptors, encoded by the unc-49 gene, mediate body muscle inhibition in Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic nematodes and are targets of anthelmintic drugs. Thus, the characterization of nematode GABA receptors provides a foundation for rational anti-parasitic drug design. We therefore explored UNC-49 channels from C. elegans muscle cultured cells of the first larval stage at the electrophysiological and behavioral levels. Whole-cell recordings reveal that GABA, muscimol and the anthelmintic piperazine elicit macroscopic currents from UNC-49 receptors that decay in their sustained presence, indicating full desensitization. Single-channel recordings show that all drugs elicit openings of ∼2.5 pA (+100 mV), which appear either as brief isolated events or in short bursts. The comparison of the lowest concentration required for detectable channel opening, the frequency of openings and the amplitude of macroscopic currents suggest that piperazine is the least efficacious of the three drugs. Macroscopic and single-channel GABA-activated currents are profoundly and apparently irreversibly inhibited by ivermectin. To gain further insight into ivermectin action at C. elegans muscle, we analyzed its effect on single-channel activity of the levamisol-sensitive nicotinic receptor (L-AChR), the excitatory receptor involved in neuromuscular transmission. Ivermectin produces a profound inhibition of the frequency of channel opening without significant changes in channel properties. By revealing that ivermectin inhibits C. elegans muscle GABA and L-AChR receptors, our study adds two receptors to the already known ivermectin targets, thus contributing to the elucidation of its pleiotropic effects. Behavioral assays in worms show that ivermectin potentiates piperazine-induced paralysis, thus suggesting that their combination is a good strategy to overcome the increasing resistance of parasites, an issue of global concern for human and animal health.

NRA-2, a nicalin homolog, regulates neuronal death by controlling surface localization of toxic Caenorhabditis elegans DEG/ENaC channels

Hyperactivated DEG/ENaCs induce neuronal death through excessive cation influx and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Caenorhabditis elegans DEG/ENaC MEC-4 is hyperactivated by the (d) mutation and induces death of touch neurons. The analogous substitution in MEC-10 (MEC-10(d)) co-expressed in the same neurons is only mildly neurotoxic. We exploited the lower toxicity of MEC-10(d) to identify RNAi knockdowns that enhance neuronal death. We report here that knock-out of the C. elegans nicalin homolog NRA-2 enhances MEC-10(d)-induced neuronal death. Cell biological assays in C. elegans neurons show that NRA-2 controls the distribution of MEC-10(d) between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell surface. Electrophysiological experiments in Xenopus oocytes support this notion and suggest that control of channel distribution by NRA-2 is dependent on the subunit composition. We propose that nicalin/NRA-2 functions in a quality control mechanism to retain mutant channels in the endoplasmic reticulum, influencing the extent of neuronal death. Mammalian nicalin may have a similar role in DEG/ENaC biology, therefore influencing pathological conditions like ischemia.

Investigation of acetylcholine receptor diversity in a nematode parasite leads to characterization of tribendimidine- and derquantel-sensitive nAChRs

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of parasitic nematodes are required for body movement and are targets of important "classical" anthelmintics like levamisole and pyrantel, as well as "novel" anthelmintics like tribendimidine and derquantel. Four biophysical subtypes of nAChR have been observed electrophysiologically in body muscle of the nematode parasite Oesophagostomum dentatum, but their molecular basis was not understood. Additionally, loss of one of these subtypes (G 35 pS) was found to be associated with levamisole resistance. In the present study, we identified and expressed in Xenopus oocytes, four O. dentatum nAChR subunit genes, Ode-unc-38, Ode-unc-63, Ode-unc-29 and Ode-acr-8, to explore the origin of the receptor diversity. When different combinations of subunits were injected in Xenopus oocytes, we reconstituted and characterized four pharmacologically different types of nAChRs with different sensitivities to the cholinergic anthelmintics. Moreover, we demonstrate that the receptor diversity may be affected by the stoichiometric arrangement of the subunits. We show, for the first time, different combinations of subunits from a parasitic nematode that make up receptors sensitive to tribendimidine and derquantel. In addition, we report that the recombinant levamisole-sensitive receptor made up of Ode-UNC-29, Ode-UNC-63, Ode-UNC-38 and Ode-ACR-8 subunits has the same single-channel conductance, 35 pS and 2.4 ms mean open-time properties, as the levamisole-AChR (G35) subtype previously identified in vivo. These data highlight the flexible arrangements of the receptor subunits and their effects on sensitivity and resistance to the cholinergic anthelmintics; pyrantel, tribendimidine and/or derquantel may still be effective on levamisole-resistant worms.

Postsynaptic current bursts instruct action potential firing at a graded synapse

Nematode neurons generally produce graded potentials instead of action potentials (APs). It is unclear how the graded potentials control postsynaptic cells under physiological conditions. Here we show that postsynaptic currents (PSCs) frequently occur in bursts at the neuromuscular junction of C. elegans. Cholinergic bursts concur with facilitated AP firing, elevated cytosolic [Ca²⁺], and contraction of the muscle whereas GABA ergic bursts suppress AP firing. The bursts, distinct from artificially evoked responses, are characterized by a persistent current (the primary component of burst-associated charge transfer)and increased frequency and mean amplitude of PSC events. The persistent current of cholinergic PSC bursts is mostly mediated by levamisole-sensitive acetylcholine receptors, which correlates well with locomotory phenotypes of receptor mutants. Eliminating command interneurons abolishes the bursts whereas mutating SLO-1 K⁺ channel, a potent presynaptic inhibitor of exocytosis, greatly increases the mean burst duration. These observations suggest that motoneurons control muscle by producing PSC bursts.

TGF-β signaling in C. elegans

Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily ligands regulate many aspects of cell identity, function, and survival in multicellular animals. Genes encoding five TGF-β family members are present in the genome of C. elegans. Two of the ligands, DBL-1 and DAF-7, signal through a canonical receptor-Smad signaling pathway; while a third ligand, UNC-129, interacts with a noncanonical signaling pathway. No function has yet been associated with the remaining two ligands. Here we summarize these signaling pathways and their biological functions.

Optogenetic manipulation of neural activity in C. elegans: from synapse to circuits and behaviour

The emerging field of optogenetics allows for optical activation or inhibition of excitable cells. In 2005, optogenetic proteins were expressed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for the first time. Since then, C. elegans has served as a powerful platform upon which to conduct optogenetic investigations of synaptic function, circuit dynamics and the neuronal basis of behaviour. The C. elegans nervous system, consisting of 302 neurons, whose connectivity and morphology has been mapped completely, drives a rich repertoire of behaviours that are quantifiable by video microscopy. This model organism's compact nervous system, quantifiable behaviour, genetic tractability and optical accessibility make it especially amenable to optogenetic interrogation. Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), halorhodopsin (NpHR/Halo) and other common optogenetic proteins have all been expressed in C. elegans. Moreover, recent advances leveraging molecular genetics and patterned light illumination have now made it possible to target photoactivation and inhibition to single cells and to do so in worms as they behave freely. Here, we describe techniques and methods for optogenetic manipulation in C. elegans. We review recent work using optogenetics and C. elegans for neuroscience investigations at the level of synapses, circuits and behaviour.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: a comparison of the nAChRs of Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic nematodes

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a key role in the normal physiology of nematodes and provide an established target site for anthelmintics. The free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, has a large number of nAChR subunit genes in its genome and so provides an experimental model for testing novel anthelmintics which act at these sites. However, many parasitic nematodes lack specific genes present in C. elegans, and so care is required in extrapolating from studies using C. elegans to the situation in other nematodes. In this review the properties of C. elegans nAChRs are reviewed and compared to those of parasitic nematodes. This forms the basis for a discussion of the possible subunit composition of nAChRs from different species of parasitic nematodes. Currently our knowledge on this is largely based on studies using heterologous expression and pharmacological analysis of receptor subunits in Xenopus laevis oocytes. It is concluded that more information is required regarding the subunit composition and pharmacology of endogenous nAChRs in parasitic nematodes.

Biosynthesis of ionotropic acetylcholine receptors requires the evolutionarily conserved ER membrane complex

The number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) present in the plasma membrane of muscle and neuronal cells is limited by the assembly of individual subunits into mature pentameric receptors. This process is usually inefficient, and a large number of the synthesized subunits are degraded by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation. To identify cellular factors required for the synthesis of AChRs, we performed a genetic screen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for mutants with decreased sensitivity to the cholinergic agonist levamisole. We isolated a partial loss-of-function allele of ER membrane protein complex-6 (emc-6), a previously uncharacterized gene in C. elegans. emc-6 encodes an evolutionarily conserved 111-aa protein with two predicted transmembrane domains. EMC-6 is ubiquitously expressed and localizes to the ER. Partial inhibition of EMC-6 caused decreased expression of heteromeric levamisole-sensitive AChRs by destabilizing unassembled subunits in the ER. Inhibition of emc-6 also reduced the expression of homomeric nicotine-sensitive AChRs and GABAA receptors in C. elegans muscle cells. emc-6 is orthologous to the yeast and human EMC6 genes that code for a component of the recently identified ER membrane complex (EMC). Our data suggest this complex is required for protein folding and is connected to ER-associated degradation. We demonstrated that inactivation of additional EMC members in C. elegans also impaired AChR synthesis and induced the unfolded protein response. These results suggest that the EMC is a component of the ER folding machinery. AChRs might provide a valuable proxy to decipher the function of the EMC further.

Levamisole receptors: a second awakening

Levamisole and pyrantel are old (1965) but useful anthelmintics that selectively activate nematode acetylcholine ion channel receptors; they are used to treat roundworm infections in humans and animals. Interest in their actions has surged, giving rise to new knowledge and technical advances, including an ability to reconstitute receptors that reveal more details of modes of action/resistance. We now know that the receptors are plastic and may form diverse species-dependent subtypes of receptor with different sensitivities to individual cholinergic anthelmintics. Understanding the biology of the levamisole receptors is expected to inform other studies on anthelmintics (ivermectin and emodepside) that act on ion channels.

Functional reconstitution of Haemonchus contortus acetylcholine receptors in Xenopus oocytes provides mechanistic insights into levamisole resistance

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The cholinergic agonist levamisole is widely used to treat parasitic nematode infestations. This anthelmintic drug paralyses worms by activating a class of levamisole-sensitive acetylcholine receptors (L-AChRs) expressed in nematode muscle cells. However, levamisole efficacy has been compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant parasites, especially in gastrointestinal nematodes such as Haemonchus contortus. We report here the first functional reconstitution and pharmacological characterization of H. contortus L-AChRs in a heterologous expression system.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, five AChR subunit and three ancillary protein genes are necessary in vivo and in vitro to synthesize L-AChRs. We have cloned the H. contortus orthologues of these genes and expressed them in Xenopus oocytes. We reconstituted two types of H. contortus L-AChRs with distinct pharmacologies by combining different receptor subunits.

KEY RESULTS

The Hco-ACR-8 subunit plays a pivotal role in selective sensitivity to levamisole. As observed with C. elegans L-AChRs, expression of H. contortus receptors requires the ancillary proteins Hco-RIC-3, Hco-UNC-50 and Hco-UNC-74. Using this experimental system, we demonstrated that a truncated Hco-UNC-63 L-AChR subunit, which was specifically detected in a levamisole-resistant H. contortus isolate, but not in levamisole-sensitive strains, hampers the normal function of L-AChRs, when co-expressed with its full-length counterpart.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We provide the first functional evidence for a putative molecular mechanism involved in levamisole resistance in any parasitic nematode. This expression system will provide a means to analyse molecular polymorphisms associated with drug resistance at the electrophysiological level.

The development and application of optogenetics

Genetically encoded, single-component optogenetic tools have made a significant impact on neuroscience, enabling specific modulation of selected cells within complex neural tissues. As the optogenetic toolbox contents grow and diversify, the opportunities for neuroscience continue to grow. In this review, we outline the development of currently available single-component optogenetic tools and summarize the application of various optogenetic tools in diverse model organisms.

Optogenetic analysis of GABAB receptor signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans motor neurons

In the nervous system, a perfect balance of excitation and inhibition is required, for example, to enable coordinated locomotion. In Caenorhabditis elegans, cholinergic and GABAergic motor neurons (MNs) effect waves of contralateral muscle contraction and relaxation. Cholinergic MNs innervate muscle as well as GABAergic MNs, projecting to the opposite side of the body, at dyadic synapses. Only a few connections exist from GABAergic to cholinergic MNs, emphasizing that GABA signaling is mainly directed toward muscle. Yet, a GABA(B) receptor comprising GBB-1 and GBB-2 subunits, expressed in cholinergic MNs, was shown to affect locomotion, likely by feedback inhibition of cholinergic MNs in response to spillover GABA. In the present study, we examined whether the GBB-1/2 receptor could also affect short-term plasticity in cholinergic MNs with the use of channelrhodopsin-2-mediated photostimulation of GABAergic and cholinergic neurons. The GBB-1/2 receptor contributes to acute body relaxation, evoked by photoactivation of GABAergic MNs, and to effects of GABA on locomotion behavior. Loss of the plasma membrane GABA transporter SNF-11, as well as acute photoevoked GABA release, affected cholinergic MN function in opposite directions. Prolonged stimulation of GABA MNs had subtle effects on cholinergic MNs, depending on stimulus duration and gbb-2. Thus GBB-1/2 receptors serve mainly for linear feedback inhibition of cholinergic MNs but also evoke minor plastic changes.

Macoilin, a conserved nervous system-specific ER membrane protein that regulates neuronal excitability

Genome sequence comparisons have highlighted many novel gene families that are conserved across animal phyla but whose biological function is unknown. Here, we functionally characterize a member of one such family, the macoilins. Macoilins are characterized by several highly conserved predicted transmembrane domains towards the N-terminus and by coiled-coil regions C-terminally. They are found throughout Eumetazoa but not in other organisms. Mutants for the single Caenorhabditis elegans macoilin, maco-1, exhibit a constellation of behavioral phenotypes, including defects in aggregation, O₂ responses, and swimming. MACO-1 protein is expressed broadly and specifically in the nervous system and localizes to the rough endoplasmic reticulum; it is excluded from dendrites and axons. Apart from subtle synapse defects, nervous system development appears wild-type in maco-1 mutants. However, maco-1 animals are resistant to the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb and sensitive to levamisole, suggesting pre-synaptic defects. Using in vivo imaging, we show that macoilin is required to evoke Ca²(+) transients, at least in some neurons: in maco-1 mutants the O₂-sensing neuron PQR is unable to generate a Ca²(+) response to a rise in O₂. By genetically disrupting neurotransmission, we show that pre-synaptic input is not necessary for PQR to respond to O₂, indicating that the response is mediated by cell-intrinsic sensory transduction and amplification. Disrupting the sodium leak channels NCA-1/NCA-2, or the N-,P/Q,R-type voltage-gated Ca²(+) channels, also fails to disrupt Ca²(+) responses in the PQR cell body to O₂ stimuli. By contrast, mutations in egl-19, which encodes the only Caenorhabditis elegans L-type voltage-gated Ca²(+) channel α1 subunit, recapitulate the Ca²(+) response defect we see in maco-1 mutants, although we do not see defects in localization of EGL-19. Together, our data suggest that macoilin acts in the ER to regulate assembly or traffic of ion channels or ion channel regulators.

Sorting receptor Rer1 controls surface expression of muscle acetylcholine receptors by ER retention of unassembled alpha-subunits

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of skeletal muscle is composed of five subunits that are assembled in a stepwise manner. Quality control mechanisms ensure that only fully assembled receptors reach the cell surface. Here, we show that Rer1, a putative Golgi-ER retrieval receptor, is involved in the biogenesis of acetylcholine receptors. Rer1 is expressed in the early secretory pathway in the myoblast line C2C12 and in mouse skeletal muscle, and up-regulated during myogenesis. Upon down-regulation of Rer1 in C2C12 cells, unassembled acetylcholine receptor α-subunits escape from the ER and are transported to the plasma membrane and lysosomes, where they are degraded. As a result, the amount of fully assembled receptor at the cell surface is reduced. In vivo Rer1 knockdown and genetic inactivation of one Rer1 allele lead to significantly smaller neuromuscular junctions in mice. Our data show that Rer1 is a functionally important unique factor that controls surface expression of muscle acetylcholine receptors by localizing unassembled α-subunits to the early secretory pathway.

Microbial rhodopsins in the spotlight

The discovery of the light-gated cation channel Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and the use of the rediscovered light-driven Cl-pump halorhodopsin (HR) as optogenetic tools--genetically encoded switches that enable neurons to be turned on or off with bursts of light--refines the functional study of neurons in larger networks. Cell-specific expression allows a fast optical scanning approach to determine neuronal crosstalk following plasticity at the single synapse level or long-range projections in locomotion and somatosensory networks. Both rhodopsins proved to work functionally and could evoke behavioral responses in lower model organisms, reinstall rudimentary visual perception in blind mice and were set in a biomedical context with the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases.

Transmembrane protein 147 (TMEM147) is a novel component of the Nicalin-NOMO protein complex

Nicastrin and its relative Nicalin (Nicastrin-like protein) are both members of larger protein complexes, namely gamma-secretase and the Nicalin-NOMO (Nodal modulator) complex. The gamma-secretase complex, which contains Presenilin, APH-1, and PEN-2 in addition to Nicastrin, catalyzes the proteolytic cleavage of the transmembrane domain of various proteins including the beta-amyloid precursor protein and Notch. Nicalin and its binding partner NOMO form a complex that was shown to modulate Nodal signaling in developing zebrafish embryos. Because its experimentally determined native size (200-220 kDa) could not be satisfyingly explained by the molecular masses of Nicalin (60 kDa) and NOMO (130 kDa), we searched in affinity-purified complex preparations for additional components in the low molecular mass range. A approximately 22-kDa protein was isolated and identified by mass spectrometry as transmembrane protein 147 (TMEM147), a novel, highly conserved membrane protein with a putative topology similar to APH-1. Like Nicalin and NOMO, it localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and is expressed during early zebrafish development. Overexpression and knockdown experiments in cultured cells demonstrate a close relationship between the three proteins and suggest that they are components of the same complex. We present evidence that, similar to gamma-secretase, its assembly is hierarchical starting with the formation of a Nicalin-NOMO intermediate. Nicalin appears to represent the limiting factor regulating the assembly rate by stabilizing the other two components. We conclude that TMEM147 is a novel core component of the Nicalin-NOMO complex, further emphasizing its similarity with gamma-secretase.

Receptor and subunit specific interactions of RIC-3 with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

RIC-3 belongs to a conserved family of proteins influencing maturation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). RIC-3 homologues were shown to differently affect different nAChRs. Here we show that coexpression with RIC-3 increases the level of surface expression of DEG-3 while slightly reducing the level of surface expression of DES-2, both subunits of the DEG-3/DES-2 nAChRs. Those different effects are a likely explanation for the previously demonstrated effects of RIC-3, an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, on properties of this receptor. To understand how RIC-3 interacts with different nAChR subunits, we identified and characterized domains and residues enabling this interaction. This analysis shows that conserved residues in the second RIC-3 transmembrane domain are needed for its interactions with two different Caenorhabditis elegans nAChRs, DEG-3/DES-2 and ACR-16. These conserved residues do not, however, function alone; rather, we show that additional domains also enable RIC-3's interactions with these receptors. Interestingly, the relative importance of these residues or of other domains mediating interactions of RIC-3 with nAChRs differs for the two different receptors. Differences in the way that RIC-3, predicted to be an intrinsically disordered protein, interacts with different receptors and receptor subunits suggest that it may adopt different conformations to enable these interactions. Such differences may explain both the effects of RIC-3 on receptor properties and the differences in its effects on different receptors.