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Griffin H, Hanson J, Phelan KD, Baldini G. MC4R Localizes at Excitatory Postsynaptic and Peri-Postsynaptic Sites of Hypothalamic Neurons in Primary Culture. Cells 2024; 13:1235. [PMID: 39120267 PMCID: PMC11311852 DOI: 10.3390/cells13151235] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is expressed in several brain locations encompassing the hypothalamus and the brainstem, where the receptor controls several body functions, including metabolism. In a well-defined pathway to decrease appetite, hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons localized in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) project to MC4R neurons in the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) to release the natural MC4R agonist α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Arc neurons also project excitatory glutamatergic fibers to the MC4R neurons in the PVN for a fast synaptic transmission to regulate a satiety pathway potentiated by α-MSH. By using super-resolution microscopy, we found that in hypothalamic neurons in a primary culture, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) colocalizes with GluN1, a subunit of the ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Thus, hypothalamic neurons form excitatory postsynaptic specializations. To study the MC4R distribution at these sites, tagged HA-MC4R under the synapsin promoter was expressed in neurons by adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transduction. HA-MC4R immunofluorescence peaked at the center and in proximity to the PSD95- and NMDAR-expressing sites. These data provide morphological evidence that MC4R localizes together with glutamate receptors at postsynaptic and peri-postsynaptic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haven Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (H.G.); (J.H.)
| | - Jude Hanson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (H.G.); (J.H.)
| | - Kevin D. Phelan
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA;
| | - Giulia Baldini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (H.G.); (J.H.)
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Fukata Y, Fukata M, MacGillavry HD, Nair D, Hosy E. Celebrating the Birthday of AMPA Receptor Nanodomains: Illuminating the Nanoscale Organization of Excitatory Synapses with 10 Nanocandles. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2104232024. [PMID: 38839340 PMCID: PMC11154862 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2104-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A decade ago, in 2013, and over the course of 4 summer months, three separate observations were reported that each shed light independently on a new molecular organization that fundamentally reshaped our perception of excitatory synaptic transmission (Fukata et al., 2013; MacGillavry et al., 2013; Nair et al., 2013). This discovery unveiled an intricate arrangement of AMPA-type glutamate receptors and their principal scaffolding protein PSD-95, at synapses. This breakthrough was made possible, thanks to advanced super-resolution imaging techniques. It fundamentally changed our understanding of excitatory synaptic architecture and paved the way for a brand-new area of research. In this Progressions article, the primary investigators of the nanoscale organization of synapses have come together to chronicle the tale of their discovery. We recount the initial inquiry that prompted our research, the preceding studies that inspired our work, the technical obstacles that were encountered, and the breakthroughs that were made in the subsequent decade in the realm of nanoscale synaptic transmission. We review the new discoveries made possible by the democratization of super-resolution imaging techniques in the field of excitatory synaptic physiology and architecture, first by the extension to other glutamate receptors and to presynaptic proteins and then by the notion of trans-synaptic organization. After describing the organizational modifications occurring in various pathologies, we discuss briefly the latest technical developments made possible by super-resolution imaging and emerging concepts in synaptic physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Fukata
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
- Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Masaki Fukata
- Division of Membrane Physiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
- Division of Neuropharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Harold D MacGillavry
- Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Deepak Nair
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Eric Hosy
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR5297, Bordeaux F-33000, France
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Breton V, Nazac P, Boulet D, Danglot L. Molecular mapping of neuronal architecture using STORM microscopy and new fluorescent probes for SMLM imaging. NEUROPHOTONICS 2024; 11:014414. [PMID: 38464866 PMCID: PMC10923464 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.11.1.014414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Imaging neuronal architecture has been a recurrent challenge over the years, and the localization of synaptic proteins is a frequent challenge in neuroscience. To quantitatively detect and analyze the structure of synapses, we recently developed free SODA software to detect the association of pre and postsynaptic proteins. To fully take advantage of spatial distribution analysis in complex cells, such as neurons, we also selected some new dyes for plasma membrane labeling. Using Icy SODA plugin, we could detect and analyze synaptic association in both conventional and single molecule localization microscopy, giving access to a molecular map at the nanoscale level. To replace those molecular distributions within the neuronal three-dimensional (3D) shape, we used MemBright probes and 3D STORM analysis to decipher the entire 3D shape of various dendritic spine types at the single-molecule resolution level. We report here the example of synaptic proteins within neuronal mask, but these tools have a broader spectrum of interest since they can be used whatever the proteins or the cellular type. Altogether with SODA plugin, MemBright probes thus provide the perfect toolkit to decipher a nanometric molecular map of proteins within a 3D cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Breton
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
| | - Paul Nazac
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
| | - David Boulet
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, Paris, France
| | - Lydia Danglot
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Membrane Traffic in Healthy and Diseased Brain, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, Paris, France
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Lee J, Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Kristt M, Abreu N, Roßmann K, Arefin A, Marx DC, Broichhagen J, Levitz J. Distinct beta-arrestin coupling and intracellular trafficking of metabotropic glutamate receptor homo- and heterodimers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi8076. [PMID: 38055809 PMCID: PMC10699790 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are family C, dimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play critical roles in synaptic transmission. Despite an increasing appreciation of the molecular diversity of this family, how distinct mGluR subtypes are regulated remains poorly understood. We reveal that different group II/III mGluR subtypes show markedly different beta-arrestin (β-arr) coupling and endocytic trafficking. While mGluR2 is resistant to internalization and mGluR3 shows transient β-arr coupling, which enables endocytosis and recycling, mGluR8 and β-arr form stable complexes, which leads to efficient lysosomal targeting and degradation. Using chimeras and mutagenesis, we pinpoint carboxyl-terminal domain regions that control β-arr coupling and trafficking, including the identification of an mGluR8 splice variant with impaired internalization. We then use a battery of high-resolution fluorescence assays to find that heterodimerization further expands the diversity of mGluR regulation. Together, this work provides insight into the relationship between GPCR/β-arr complex formation and trafficking while revealing diversity and intricacy in the regulation of mGluRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Melanie Kristt
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nohely Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kilian Roßmann
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anisul Arefin
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dagan C. Marx
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Strauss A, Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Lee J, Abreu N, Selvakumar P, Salas-Estrada L, Kristt M, Marx DC, Gilliland K, Melancon BJ, Filizola M, Meyerson J, Levitz J. Structural basis of allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation and desensitization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.13.552748. [PMID: 37645747 PMCID: PMC10461995 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.13.552748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are neuromodulatory family C G protein coupled receptors which assemble as dimers and allosterically couple extracellular ligand binding domains (LBDs) to transmembrane domains (TMDs) to drive intracellular signaling. Pharmacologically, mGluRs can be targeted either at the LBDs by glutamate and synthetic orthosteric compounds or at the TMDs by allosteric modulators. Despite the potential of allosteric TMD-targeting compounds as therapeutics, an understanding of the functional and structural basis of their effects on mGluRs is limited. Here we use a battery of approaches to dissect the distinct functional and structural effects of orthosteric versus allosteric ligands. We find using electrophysiological and live cell imaging assays that both agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) can drive activation and desensitization of mGluRs. The effects of PAMs are pleiotropic, including both the ability to boost the maximal response to orthosteric agonists and to serve independently as desensitization-biased agonists across mGluR subtypes. Conformational sensors reveal PAM-driven inter-subunit re-arrangements at both the LBD and TMD. Motivated by this, we determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of mGluR3 in the presence of either an agonist or antagonist alone or in combination with a PAM. These structures reveal PAM-driven re-shaping of intra- and inter-subunit conformations and provide evidence for a rolling TMD dimer interface activation pathway that controls G protein and beta-arrestin coupling. Highlights -Agonists and PAMs drive mGluR activation, desensitization, and endocytosis-PAMs are desensitization-biased and synergistic with agonists-Four combinatorial ligand conditions reveal an ensemble of full-length mGluR structures with novel interfaces-Activation and desensitization involve rolling TMD interfaces which are re-shaped by PAM.
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Domanegg K, Sommer WH, Meinhardt MW. Psychedelic Targeting of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2 and Its Implications for the Treatment of Alcoholism. Cells 2023; 12:963. [PMID: 36980303 PMCID: PMC10047550 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol abuse is a leading risk factor for the public health burden worldwide. Approved pharmacotherapies have demonstrated limited effectiveness over the last few decades in treating alcohol use disorders (AUD). New therapeutic approaches are therefore urgently needed. Historical and recent clinical trials using psychedelics in conjunction with psychotherapy demonstrated encouraging results in reducing heavy drinking in AUD patients, with psilocybin being the most promising candidate. While psychedelics are known to induce changes in gene expression and neuroplasticity, we still lack crucial information about how this specifically counteracts the alterations that occur in neuronal circuits throughout the course of addiction. This review synthesizes well-established knowledge from addiction research about pathophysiological mechanisms related to the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2), with findings and theories on how mGlu2 connects to the major signaling pathways induced by psychedelics via serotonin 2A receptors (2AR). We provide literature evidence that mGlu2 and 2AR are able to regulate each other's downstream signaling pathways, either through monovalent crosstalk or through the formation of a 2AR-mGlu2 heteromer, and highlight epigenetic mechanisms by which 2ARs can modulate mGlu2 expression. Lastly, we discuss how these pathways might be targeted therapeutically to restore mGlu2 function in AUD patients, thereby reducing the propensity to relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Domanegg
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Sommer
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
- Bethanien Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcus W. Meinhardt
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
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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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