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Ivica J, Kejzar N, Ho H, Stockwell I, Kuchtiak V, Scrutton AM, Nakagawa T, Greger IH. Proton-triggered rearrangement of the AMPA receptor N-terminal domains impacts receptor kinetics and synaptic localization. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01369-5. [PMID: 39138332 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01369-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs) are ion channel tetramers that mediate the majority of fast excitatory synaptic transmission. They are composed of four subunits (GluA1-GluA4); the GluA2 subunit dominates AMPAR function throughout the forebrain. Its extracellular N-terminal domain (NTD) determines receptor localization at the synapse, ensuring reliable synaptic transmission and plasticity. This synaptic anchoring function requires a compact NTD tier, stabilized by a GluA2-specific NTD interface. Here we show that low pH conditions, which accompany synaptic activity, rupture this interface. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations reveal that protonation of an interfacial histidine residue (H208) centrally contributes to NTD rearrangement. Moreover, in stark contrast to their canonical compact arrangement at neutral pH, GluA2 cryo-electron microscopy structures exhibit a wide spectrum of NTD conformations under acidic conditions. We show that the consequences of this pH-dependent conformational control are twofold: rupture of the NTD tier slows recovery from desensitized states and increases receptor mobility at mouse hippocampal synapses. Therefore, a proton-triggered NTD switch will shape both AMPAR location and kinetics, thereby impacting synaptic signal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josip Ivica
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nejc Kejzar
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hinze Ho
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Imogen Stockwell
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Viktor Kuchtiak
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander M Scrutton
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Terunaga Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Ingo H Greger
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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2
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Gonzalez CU, Jayaraman V. Structural dynamics in α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor gating. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 87:102833. [PMID: 38733862 PMCID: PMC11283939 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are comprised of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA), N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, kainate, and delta subtypes and are pivotal in neuronal plasticity. Recent structural studies on AMPA receptors reveal intricate conformational changes during activation and desensitization elucidating the steps from agonist binding to channel opening and desensitization. Additionally, interactions with auxiliary subunits, including transmembrane AMPA-receptor regulatory proteins, germ-cell-specific gene 1-like protein, and cornichon homologs, intricately modulate AMPA receptors. We discuss the recent high-resolution structures of these complexes that unveil stoichiometry, subunit positioning, and differences in specific side-chain interactions that influence these functional modulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuauhtemoc U Gonzalez
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. https://twitter.com/Cuau_Ulises
| | - Vasanthi Jayaraman
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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3
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Nowacka A, Getz AM, Bessa-Neto D, Choquet D. Activity-dependent diffusion trapping of AMPA receptors as a key step for expression of early LTP. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230220. [PMID: 38853553 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the activity-dependent diffusion trapping of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) as a crucial mechanism for the expression of early long-term potentiation (LTP), a process central to learning and memory. Despite decades of research, the precise mechanisms by which LTP induction leads to an increase in AMPAR responses at synapses have been elusive. We review the different hypotheses that have been put forward to explain the increased AMPAR responsiveness during LTP. We discuss the dynamic nature of AMPAR complexes, including their constant turnover and activity-dependent modifications that affect their synaptic accumulation. We highlight a hypothesis suggesting that AMPARs are diffusively trapped at synapses through activity-dependent interactions with protein-based binding slots in the post-synaptic density (PSD), offering a potential explanation for the increased synaptic strength during LTP. Furthermore, we outline the challenges still to be addressed before we fully understand the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of AMPAR dynamic nanoscale organization in LTP. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Long-term potentiation: 50 years on'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Nowacka
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Angela M Getz
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Diogo Bessa-Neto
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Daniel Choquet
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4 , Bordeaux F-33000, France
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4
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Stockwell I, Watson JF, Greger IH. Tuning synaptic strength by regulation of AMPA glutamate receptor localization. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2400006. [PMID: 38693811 PMCID: PMC7616278 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synapses is a leading model to explain the concept of information storage in the brain. Multiple mechanisms contribute to LTP, but central amongst them is an increased sensitivity of the postsynaptic membrane to neurotransmitter release. This sensitivity is predominantly determined by the abundance and localization of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs). A combination of AMPAR structural data, super-resolution imaging of excitatory synapses, and an abundance of electrophysiological studies are providing an ever-clearer picture of how AMPARs are recruited and organized at synaptic junctions. Here, we review the latest insights into this process, and discuss how both cytoplasmic and extracellular receptor elements cooperate to tune the AMPAR response at the hippocampal CA1 synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imogen Stockwell
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jake F. Watson
- Institute of Science and Technology, Technology (IST) Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Ingo H. Greger
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
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5
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Certain N, Gan Q, Bennett J, Hsieh H, Wollmuth LP. Differential regulation of tetramerization of the AMPA receptor glutamate-gated ion channel by auxiliary subunits. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105227. [PMID: 37673338 PMCID: PMC10558804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) auxiliary subunits are specialized, nontransient binding partners of AMPARs that modulate AMPAR channel gating properties and pharmacology, as well as their biogenesis and trafficking. The most well-characterized families of auxiliary subunits are transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs), cornichon homologs (CNIHs), and the more recently discovered GSG1-L. These auxiliary subunits can promote or reduce surface expression of AMPARs (composed of GluA1-4 subunits) in neurons, thereby impacting their functional role in membrane signaling. Here, we show that CNIH-2 enhances the tetramerization of WT and mutant AMPARs, presumably by increasing the overall stability of the tetrameric complex, an effect that is mainly mediated by interactions with the transmembrane domain of the receptor. We also find CNIH-2 and CNIH-3 show receptor subunit-specific actions in this regard with CNIH-2 enhancing both GluA1 and GluA2 tetramerization, whereas CNIH-3 only weakly enhances GluA1 tetramerization. These results are consistent with the proposed role of CNIHs as endoplasmic reticulum cargo transporters for AMPARs. In contrast, TARP γ-2, TARP γ-8, and GSG1-L have no or negligible effect on AMPAR tetramerization. On the other hand, TARP γ-2 can enhance receptor tetramerization but only when directly fused with the receptor at a maximal stoichiometry. Notably, surface expression of functional AMPARs was enhanced by CNIH-2 to a greater extent than TARP γ-2, suggesting that this distinction aids in maturation and membrane expression. These experiments define a functional distinction between CNIHs and other auxiliary subunits in the regulation of AMPAR biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noele Certain
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Quan Gan
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Joseph Bennett
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Helen Hsieh
- Department of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Center for Nervous System Disorders, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Lonnie P Wollmuth
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Center for Nervous System Disorders, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
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6
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Nicoll RA, Schulman H. Synaptic memory and CaMKII. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:2877-2925. [PMID: 37290118 PMCID: PMC10642921 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00034.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and long-term potentiation (LTP) were discovered within a decade of each other and have been inextricably intertwined ever since. However, like many marriages, it has had its up and downs. Based on the unique biochemical properties of CaMKII, it was proposed as a memory molecule before any physiological linkage was made to LTP. However, as reviewed here, the convincing linkage of CaMKII to synaptic physiology and behavior took many decades. New technologies were critical in this journey, including in vitro brain slices, mouse genetics, single-cell molecular genetics, pharmacological reagents, protein structure, and two-photon microscopy, as were new investigators attracted by the exciting challenge. This review tracks this journey and assesses the state of this marriage 40 years on. The collective literature impels us to propose a relatively simple model for synaptic memory involving the following steps that drive the process: 1) Ca2+ entry through N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors activates CaMKII. 2) CaMKII undergoes autophosphorylation resulting in constitutive, Ca2+-independent activity and exposure of a binding site for the NMDA receptor subunit GluN2B. 3) Active CaMKII translocates to the postsynaptic density (PSD) and binds to the cytoplasmic C-tail of GluN2B. 4) The CaMKII-GluN2B complex initiates a structural rearrangement of the PSD that may involve liquid-liquid phase separation. 5) This rearrangement involves the PSD-95 scaffolding protein, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs), and their transmembrane AMPAR-regulatory protein (TARP) auxiliary subunits, resulting in an accumulation of AMPARs in the PSD that underlies synaptic potentiation. 6) The stability of the modified PSD is maintained by the stability of the CaMKII-GluN2B complex. 7) By a process of subunit exchange or interholoenzyme phosphorylation CaMKII maintains synaptic potentiation in the face of CaMKII protein turnover. There are many other important proteins that participate in enlargement of the synaptic spine or modulation of the steps that drive and maintain the potentiation. In this review we critically discuss the data underlying each of the steps. As will become clear, some of these steps are more firmly grounded than others, and we provide suggestions as to how the evidence supporting these steps can be strengthened or, based on the new data, be replaced. Although the journey has been a long one, the prospect of having a detailed cellular and molecular understanding of learning and memory is at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger A Nicoll
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Howard Schulman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States
- Panorama Research Institute, Sunnyvale, California, United States
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7
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Zhang D, Ivica J, Krieger JM, Ho H, Yamashita K, Stockwell I, Baradaran R, Cais O, Greger IH. Structural mobility tunes signalling of the GluA1 AMPA glutamate receptor. Nature 2023; 621:877-882. [PMID: 37704721 PMCID: PMC10533411 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06528-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPARs), the primary mediators of excitatory neurotransmission in the brain, are either GluA2 subunit-containing and thus Ca2+-impermeable, or GluA2-lacking and Ca2+-permeable1. Despite their prominent expression throughout interneurons and glia, their role in long-term potentiation and their involvement in a range of neuropathologies2, structural information for GluA2-lacking receptors is currently absent. Here we determine and characterize cryo-electron microscopy structures of the GluA1 homotetramer, fully occupied with TARPγ3 auxiliary subunits (GluA1/γ3). The gating core of both resting and open-state GluA1/γ3 closely resembles GluA2-containing receptors. However, the sequence-diverse N-terminal domains (NTDs) give rise to a highly mobile assembly, enabling domain swapping and subunit re-alignments in the ligand-binding domain tier that are pronounced in desensitized states. These transitions underlie the unique kinetic properties of GluA1. A GluA2 mutant (F231A) increasing NTD dynamics phenocopies this behaviour, and exhibits reduced synaptic responses, reflecting the anchoring function of the AMPAR NTD at the synapse. Together, this work underscores how the subunit-diverse NTDs determine subunit arrangement, gating properties and ultimately synaptic signalling efficiency among AMPAR subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Zhang
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Josip Ivica
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - James M Krieger
- Biocomputing Unit, National Center of Biotechnology, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hinze Ho
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- Structural Studies Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Imogen Stockwell
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rozbeh Baradaran
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ondrej Cais
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ingo H Greger
- Neurobiology Division, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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8
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Boudkkazi S, Schwenk J, Nakaya N, Brechet A, Kollewe A, Harada H, Bildl W, Kulik A, Dong L, Sultana A, Zolles G, Schulte U, Tomarev S, Fakler B. A Noelin-organized extracellular network of proteins required for constitutive and context-dependent anchoring of AMPA-receptors. Neuron 2023; 111:2544-2556.e9. [PMID: 37591201 PMCID: PMC10441612 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Information processing and storage in the brain rely on AMPA-receptors (AMPARs) and their context-dependent dynamics in synapses and extra-synaptic sites. We found that distribution and dynamics of AMPARs in the plasma membrane are controlled by Noelins, a three-member family of conserved secreted proteins expressed throughout the brain in a cell-type-specific manner. Noelin tetramers tightly assemble with the extracellular domains of AMPARs and interconnect them in a network-like configuration with a variety of secreted and membrane-anchored proteins including Neurexin1, Neuritin1, and Seizure 6-like. Knock out of Noelins1-3 profoundly reduced AMPARs in synapses onto excitatory and inhibitory (inter)neurons, decreased their density and clustering in dendrites, and abolished activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Our results uncover an endogenous mechanism for extracellular anchoring of AMPARs and establish Noelin-organized networks as versatile determinants of constitutive and context-dependent neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Boudkkazi
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Schwenk
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Naoki Nakaya
- National Eye Institute, Section of Retinal Ganglion Cell Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Aline Brechet
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Kollewe
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Harumi Harada
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bildl
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Akos Kulik
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lijin Dong
- National Eye Institute, Genetic Engineering Facility, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Afia Sultana
- National Eye Institute, Section of Retinal Ganglion Cell Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gerd Zolles
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Schulte
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Logopharm GmbH, Schlossstr. 14, 79232 March-Buchheim, Germany
| | - Stanislav Tomarev
- National Eye Institute, Section of Retinal Ganglion Cell Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Bernd Fakler
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 7, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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9
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Bessa-Neto D, Choquet D. Molecular mechanisms of AMPAR reversible stabilization at synapses. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103856. [PMID: 37105372 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the central nervous system, glutamatergic synapses play a central role in the regulation of excitatory neuronal transmission. With the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family of proteins as their structuring scaffold, glutamatergic receptors serve as the powerhouse of glutamatergic synapses. Glutamatergic receptors can be categorized as metabotropic and ionotropic receptors. The latter are then categorized into N-methyl-d-aspartate, kainate receptors, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-propionic acid receptors (AMPARs). Over the past two decades, genetic tagging technology and super-resolution microscopy have been of the utmost importance to unravel how the different receptors are organized at glutamatergic synapses. At the plasma membrane, receptors are highly mobile but show reduced mobility when at synaptic sites. This partial immobilization of receptors at synaptic sites is attributed to the stabilization/anchoring of receptors with the postsynaptic MAGUK proteins and auxiliary proteins, and presynaptic proteins. These partial immobilizations and localization of glutamatergic receptors within the synaptic sites are fundamental for proper basal transmission and synaptic plasticity. Perturbations of the stabilization of glutamatergic receptors are often associated with cognitive deficits. In this review, we describe the proposed mechanisms for synaptic localization and stabilization of AMPARs, the major players of fast excitatory transmission in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Bessa-Neto
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniel Choquet
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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10
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Droogers WJ, MacGillavry HD. Plasticity of postsynaptic nanostructure. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 124:103819. [PMID: 36720293 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses is built from a wide variety of scaffolding proteins, receptors, and signaling molecules that collectively orchestrate synaptic transmission. Seminal work over the past decades has led to the identification and functional characterization of many PSD components. In contrast, we know far less about how these constituents are assembled within synapses, and how this organization contributes to synapse function. Notably, recent evidence from high-resolution microscopy studies and in silico models, highlights the importance of the precise subsynaptic structure of the PSD for controlling the strength of synaptic transmission. Even further, activity-driven changes in the distribution of glutamate receptors are acknowledged to contribute to long-term changes in synaptic efficacy. Thus, defining the mechanisms that drive structural changes within the PSD are important for a molecular understanding of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Here, we review the current literature on how the PSD is organized to mediate basal synaptic transmission and how synaptic activity alters the nanoscale organization of synapses to sustain changes in synaptic strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- W J Droogers
- Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - H D MacGillavry
- Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, The Netherlands.
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11
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Certain N, Gan Q, Bennett J, Hsieh H, Wollmuth LP. Differential regulation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid (AMPA) receptor tetramerization by auxiliary subunits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.07.527516. [PMID: 36798164 PMCID: PMC9934675 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.07.527516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
AMPA receptor (AMPAR) auxiliary subunits are specialized, non-transient binding partners of AMPARs that modulate their ion channel gating properties and pharmacology, as well as their biogenesis and trafficking. The most well characterized families of auxiliary subunits are transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs) and cornichon homologs (CNIHs) and the more recently discovered GSG1-L. These auxiliary subunits can promote or reduce surface expression of AMPARs in neurons, thereby impacting their functional role in membrane signaling. Here, we show that CNIH-2 enhances the tetramerization of wild type and mutant AMPARs, possibly by increasing the overall stability of the tetrameric complex, an effect that is mainly mediated by interactions with the transmembrane domain of the receptor. We also find CNIH-2 and CNIH-3 show receptor subunit-specific actions in this regard with CNIH-2 enhancing both GluA1 and GluA2 tetramerization whereas CNIH-3 only weakly enhances GluA1 tetramerization. These results are consistent with the proposed role of CNIHs as endoplasmic reticulum cargo transporters for AMPARs. In contrast, TARP γ-2, TARP γ-8, and GSG1-L have no or negligible effect on AMPAR tetramerization. On the other hand, TARP γ-2 can enhance receptor tetramerization but only when directly fused with the receptor at a maximal stoichiometry. Notably, surface expression of functional AMPARs was enhanced by CNIH-2 to a greater extent than TARP γ-2 suggesting that this distinction aids in maturation and membrane expression. These experiments define a functional distinction between CNIHs and other auxiliary subunits in the regulation of AMPAR biogenesis.
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12
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mGluR5 is transiently confined in perisynaptic nanodomains to shape synaptic function. Nat Commun 2023; 14:244. [PMID: 36646691 PMCID: PMC9842668 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35680-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The unique perisynaptic distribution of postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) at excitatory synapses is predicted to directly shape synaptic function, but mechanistic insight into how this distribution is regulated and impacts synaptic signaling is lacking. We used live-cell and super-resolution imaging approaches, and developed molecular tools to resolve and acutely manipulate the dynamic nanoscale distribution of mGluR5. Here we show that mGluR5 is dynamically organized in perisynaptic nanodomains that localize close to, but not in the synapse. The C-terminal domain of mGluR5 critically controlled perisynaptic confinement and prevented synaptic entry. We developed an inducible interaction system to overcome synaptic exclusion of mGluR5 and investigate the impact on synaptic function. We found that mGluR5 recruitment to the synapse acutely increased synaptic calcium responses. Altogether, we propose that transient confinement of mGluR5 in perisynaptic nanodomains allows flexible modulation of synaptic function.
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KASAI H. Unraveling the mysteries of dendritic spine dynamics: Five key principles shaping memory and cognition. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2023; 99:254-305. [PMID: 37821392 PMCID: PMC10749395 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.99.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent research extends our understanding of brain processes beyond just action potentials and chemical transmissions within neural circuits, emphasizing the mechanical forces generated by excitatory synapses on dendritic spines to modulate presynaptic function. From in vivo and in vitro studies, we outline five central principles of synaptic mechanics in brain function: P1: Stability - Underpinning the integral relationship between the structure and function of the spine synapses. P2: Extrinsic dynamics - Highlighting synapse-selective structural plasticity which plays a crucial role in Hebbian associative learning, distinct from pathway-selective long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). P3: Neuromodulation - Analyzing the role of G-protein-coupled receptors, particularly dopamine receptors, in time-sensitive modulation of associative learning frameworks such as Pavlovian classical conditioning and Thorndike's reinforcement learning (RL). P4: Instability - Addressing the intrinsic dynamics crucial to memory management during continual learning, spotlighting their role in "spine dysgenesis" associated with mental disorders. P5: Mechanics - Exploring how synaptic mechanics influence both sides of synapses to establish structural traces of short- and long-term memory, thereby aiding the integration of mental functions. We also delve into the historical background and foresee impending challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruo KASAI
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Bencsik N, Oueslati Morales CO, Hausser A, Schlett K. Endocytosis of AMPA receptors: Role in neurological conditions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 196:59-97. [PMID: 36813366 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
AMPA receptors are glutamate-gated ion channels, present in a wide range of neuron types and in glial cells. Their main role is to mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission, and therefore, they are critical for normal brain function. In neurons, AMPA receptors undergo constitutive and activity-dependent trafficking between the synaptic, extrasynaptic and intracellular pools. The kinetics of AMPA receptor trafficking is crucial for the precise functioning of both individual neurons and neural networks involved in information processing and learning. Many of the neurological diseases evoked by neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative malfunctions or traumatic injuries are caused by impaired synaptic function in the central nervous system. For example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), tumors, seizures, ischemic strokes, and traumatic brain injury are all characterized by impaired glutamate homeostasis and associated neuronal death, typically caused by excitotoxicity. Given the important role of AMPA receptors in neuronal function, it is not surprising that perturbations in AMPA receptor trafficking are associated with these neurological disorders. In this book chapter, we will first introduce the structure, physiology and synthesis of AMPA receptors, followed by an in-depth description of the molecular mechanisms that control AMPA receptor endocytosis and surface levels under basal conditions or synaptic plasticity. Finally, we will discuss how impairments in AMPA receptor trafficking, particularly endocytosis, contribute to the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders and what efforts are being made to therapeutically target this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Bencsik
- Neuronal Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Carlos Omar Oueslati Morales
- Membrane Trafficking and Signalling Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Angelika Hausser
- Membrane Trafficking and Signalling Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany; Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katalin Schlett
- Neuronal Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
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15
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Zhang Q, Miyamoto A, Watanabe S, Arimori T, Sakai M, Tomisaki M, Kiuchi T, Takagi J, Watanabe N. Engineered fast-dissociating antibody fragments for multiplexed super-resolution microscopy. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100301. [PMID: 36313806 PMCID: PMC9606137 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Image reconstruction by integrating exchangeable single-molecule localization (IRIS) achieves multiplexed super-resolution imaging by high-density labeling with fast exchangeable fluorescent probes. However, previous methods to develop probes for individual targets required a great amount of time and effort. Here, we introduce a method for generating recombinant IRIS probes with a new mutagenesis strategy that can be widely applied to existing antibody sequences. Several conserved tyrosine residues at the base of complementarity-determining regions were identified as candidate sites for site-directed mutagenesis. With a high probability, mutations at candidate sites accelerated the off rate of recombinant antibody-based probes without compromising specific binding. We were able to develop IRIS probes from five monoclonal antibodies and three single-domain antibodies. We demonstrate multiplexed localization of endogenous proteins in primary neurons that visualizes small synaptic connections with high binding density. It is now practically feasible to generate fast-dissociating fluorescent probes for multitarget super-resolution imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianli Zhang
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Cell Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Cell Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shin Watanabe
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Cell Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takao Arimori
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masanori Sakai
- Kyoto University Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto 606-8317, Japan
| | - Madoka Tomisaki
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Cell Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Tai Kiuchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Junichi Takagi
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoki Watanabe
- Laboratory of Single-Molecule Cell Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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16
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Ravi AS, Zeng M, Chen X, Sandoval G, Diaz-Alonso J, Zhang M, Nicoll RA. Long-term potentiation reconstituted with an artificial TARP/PSD-95 complex. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111483. [PMID: 36223737 PMCID: PMC9797105 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The critical role of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking in long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission is now well established, but the underlying molecular mechanism is still uncertain. Recent research suggests that PSD-95 captures AMPARs via an interaction with the AMPAR auxiliary subunits-transmembrane AMPAR regulatory proteins (TARPs). To determine if such interaction is a core minimal component of the AMPAR trafficking and LTP mechanism, we engineered artificial binding partners, which individually were biochemically and functionally dead but which, when expressed together, rescue binding and both basal synaptic transmission and LTP. These findings establish the TARP/PSD-95 complex as an essential interaction underlying AMPAR trafficking and LTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anagh Sinha Ravi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Menglong Zeng
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xudong Chen
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gerardo Sandoval
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA,Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Javier Diaz-Alonso
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA,Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA,Correspondence: (J.D.-A.), (R.A.N.)
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China,Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518036, China,School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Roger A. Nicoll
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence: (J.D.-A.), (R.A.N.)
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Getz AM, Ducros M, Breillat C, Lampin-Saint-Amaux A, Daburon S, François U, Nowacka A, Fernández-Monreal M, Hosy E, Lanore F, Zieger HL, Sainlos M, Humeau Y, Choquet D. High-resolution imaging and manipulation of endogenous AMPA receptor surface mobility during synaptic plasticity and learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm5298. [PMID: 35895810 PMCID: PMC9328687 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm5298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of synaptic neurotransmitter receptor content is a fundamental mechanism for tuning synaptic efficacy during experience-dependent plasticity and behavioral adaptation. However, experimental approaches to track and modify receptor movements in integrated experimental systems are limited. Exploiting AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) as a model, we generated a knock-in mouse expressing the biotin acceptor peptide (AP) tag on the GluA2 extracellular N-terminal. Cell-specific introduction of biotin ligase allows the use of monovalent or tetravalent avidin variants to respectively monitor or manipulate the surface mobility of endogenous AMPAR containing biotinylated AP-GluA2 in neuronal subsets. AMPAR immobilization precluded the expression of long-term potentiation and formation of contextual fear memory, allowing target-specific control of the expression of synaptic plasticity and animal behavior. The AP tag knock-in model offers unprecedented access to resolve and control the spatiotemporal dynamics of endogenous receptors, and opens new avenues to study the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M. Getz
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathieu Ducros
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), UAR 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Christelle Breillat
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Aurélie Lampin-Saint-Amaux
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sophie Daburon
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Urielle François
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Agata Nowacka
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mónica Fernández-Monreal
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), UAR 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Eric Hosy
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Frédéric Lanore
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Hanna L. Zieger
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Matthieu Sainlos
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Yann Humeau
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniel Choquet
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS), UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), UAR 3420, US 4, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- Corresponding author.
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18
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Hruska M, Cain RE, Dalva MB. Nanoscale rules governing the organization of glutamate receptors in spine synapses are subunit specific. Nat Commun 2022; 13:920. [PMID: 35177616 PMCID: PMC8854560 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28504-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotetrameric glutamate receptors are essential for the development, function, and plasticity of spine synapses but how they are organized to achieve this is not known. Here we show that the nanoscale organization of glutamate receptors containing specific subunits define distinct subsynaptic features. Glutamate receptors containing GluA2 or GluN1 subunits establish nanomodular elements precisely positioned relative to Synaptotagmin-1 positive presynaptic release sites that scale with spine size. Glutamate receptors containing GluA1 or GluN2B specify features that exhibit flexibility: GluA1-subunit containing AMPARs are found in larger spines, while GluN2B-subunit containing NMDARs are enriched in the smallest spines with neither following a strict modular organization. Given that the precise positioning of distinct classes of glutamate receptors is linked to diverse events including cell death and synaptic plasticity, this unexpectedly robust synaptic nanoarchitecture provides a resilient system, where nanopositioned glutamate receptor heterotetramers define specific subsynaptic regions of individual spine synapses. Glutamate receptors comprise two obligate subunits and two subunits that confer distinct properties and functions to the specific tetramers, which also localize to distinct synaptic spines. Here, the authors use STimulated Emission Depletion nanoscopy (STED) to provide detailed insights into the spatial organization of glutamate receptor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hruska
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, 108 Biomedical Road, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Rachel E Cain
- Department of Neuroscience and Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Matthew B Dalva
- Department of Neuroscience and Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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19
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Tan X, Zhong Y, Li R, Chang C. Neuromodulation of Chemical Synaptic Transmission Driven by THz Photons. RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.34133/research.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Postsynaptic currents of chemical synapse are modulated by multitudinous neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, dopamine, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid, many of which have been used in the treatment of neurological diseases. Here, based on molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculation, we propose that 30- to 45-THz photons can resonate with a variety of typical neurotransmitter molecules and make them absorb photon energy to activate the transition to high energy state, which is expected to be a new method of neural regulation. Furthermore, we verified the calculated results through experiments that THz irradiation could substantively change neuronal signal emission and enhance the frequency, amplitude, and dynamic properties of excitatory postsynaptic current and inhibitory postsynaptic current. In addition, we demonstrated the potential of neural information regulation by THz photons through 2-photon imaging in vivo. These findings are expected to improve the understanding of the physical mechanism of biological phenomena and facilitate the application of terahertz technology in neural regulation and the development of new functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Tan
- Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing 100071, China
- Astronaut Center of China, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing 100071, China
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ruijie Li
- Brain Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns, and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chao Chang
- Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing 100071, China
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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