Modulation of ionotropic glutamate receptor function by vertebrate galectins

Positive and negative allosteric modulation of GluK2 kainate receptors by BPAM344 and antiepileptic perampanel

Kainate receptors (KARs) are a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors that control synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and are implicated in neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the regulation of KAR function by small molecules is essential for exploring these receptors as drug targets. Here, we present cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of KAR GluK2 in complex with the positive allosteric modulator BPAM344, competitive antagonist DNQX, and negative allosteric modulator, antiepileptic drug perampanel. Our structures show that two BPAM344 molecules bind per ligand-binding domain dimer interface. In the absence of an agonist or in the presence of DNQX, BPAM344 stabilizes GluK2 in the closed state. The closed state is also stabilized by perampanel, which binds to the ion channel extracellular collar sites located in two out of four GluK2 subunits. The molecular mechanisms of positive and negative allosteric modulation of KAR provide a guide for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Neuroprotective Effect of Exogenous Galectin-1 in Status Epilepticus

Intrahippocampal pilocarpine microinjection (H-PILO) induces status epilepticus (SE) that can lead to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and neurodegeneration in rodents. Studies using animal models have indicated that lectins mediate a variety of biological activities with neuronal benefits, especially galectin-1 (GAL-1), which has been identified as an effective neuroprotective compound. GAL-1 is associated with the regulation of cell adhesion, proliferation, programmed cell death, and immune responses, as well as attenuating neuroinflammation. Here, we administrated GAL-1 to Wistar rats and evaluated the severity of the SE, neurodegenerative and inflammatory patterns in the hippocampal formation. Administration of GAL-1 caused a reduction in the number of class 2 and 4 seizures, indicating a decrease in seizure severity. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in inflammation and neurodegeneration 24 h and 15 days after SE. Overall, these results suggest that GAL-1 has a neuroprotective effect in the early stage of epileptogenesis and provides new insights into the roles of exogenous lectins in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Structure, Function, and Pharmacology of Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels

Many physiologic effects of l-glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, are mediated via signaling by ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs). These ligand-gated ion channels are critical to brain function and are centrally implicated in numerous psychiatric and neurologic disorders. There are different classes of iGluRs with a variety of receptor subtypes in each class that play distinct roles in neuronal functions. The diversity in iGluR subtypes, with their unique functional properties and physiologic roles, has motivated a large number of studies. Our understanding of receptor subtypes has advanced considerably since the first iGluR subunit gene was cloned in 1989, and the research focus has expanded to encompass facets of biology that have been recently discovered and to exploit experimental paradigms made possible by technological advances. Here, we review insights from more than 3 decades of iGluR studies with an emphasis on the progress that has occurred in the past decade. We cover structure, function, pharmacology, roles in neurophysiology, and therapeutic implications for all classes of receptors assembled from the subunits encoded by the 18 ionotropic glutamate receptor genes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Glutamate receptors play important roles in virtually all aspects of brain function and are either involved in mediating some clinical features of neurological disease or represent a therapeutic target for treatment. Therefore, understanding the structure, function, and pharmacology of this class of receptors will advance our understanding of many aspects of brain function at molecular, cellular, and system levels and provide new opportunities to treat patients.

Post-translational protein modifications in schizophrenia

Research investigating the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has not yet precisely defined the molecular phenotype of this disorder. Many studies have investigated cellular dysfunction by examining expression levels of molecular targets in postmortem patient brain; however, inconsistencies between transcript and protein measures in schizophrenia are common in the field and represent a challenge to the identification of a unified model of schizophrenia pathogenesis. In humans, >4800 unique proteins are expressed, and the majority of these are modified by glycans and/or lipids. Estimates indicate ~70% of all eukaryotic proteins are modified by at least one type of glycosylation, while nearly 20% of all proteins are known to be lipid-modified. Protein post-translational modification (PTM) by glycosylation and lipidation rely on the spatiotemporal colocalization of enzyme, substrate, and glycan or lipid donor molecule and do not require an upstream “blueprint” or specialized processing machinery for synthesis. Glycan and lipid PTMs can thus facilitate cellular adaptation to environmental signals more rapidly than changes of gene or protein expression, and can significantly impact the localization, function, and interactions of modified substrates, though relatively few studies in schizophrenia have evaluated the PTM status of target proteins. A growing body of literature reports glycosylation and lipidation abnormalities in schizophrenia brain as well as in patient peripheral fluids. In this review, we explain the functional significance of key glycan and lipid PTMs and summarize current findings associated with abnormal glycosylation and lipidation in this illness.

Structural and Functional Insights into GluK3-kainate Receptor Desensitization and Recovery

GluK3-kainate receptors are atypical members of the iGluR family that reside at both the pre- and postsynapse and play a vital role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. For a better understanding of structural changes that underlie receptor functions, GluK3 receptors were trapped in desensitized and resting/closed states and structures analyzed using single particle cryo-electron microscopy. While the desensitized GluK3 has domain organization as seen earlier for another kainate receptor-GluK2, antagonist bound GluK3 trapped a resting state with only two LBD domains in dimeric arrangement necessary for receptor activation. Using structures as a guide, we show that the N-linked glycans at the interface of GluK3 ATD and LBD likely mediate inter-domain interactions and attune receptor-gating properties. The mutational analysis also identified putative N-glycan interacting residues. Our results provide a molecular framework for understanding gating properties unique to GluK3 and exploring the role of N-linked glycosylation in their modulation.

Architecture and Dynamics of the Neuronal Secretory Network

Regulated synthesis and movement of proteins between cellular organelles are central to diverse forms of biological adaptation and plasticity. In neurons, the repertoire of channel, receptor, and adhesion proteins displayed on the cell surface directly impacts cellular development, morphology, excitability, and synapse function. The immensity of the neuronal surface membrane and its division into distinct functional domains present a challenging landscape over which proteins must navigate to reach their appropriate functional domains. This problem becomes more complex considering that neuronal protein synthesis is continuously refined in space and time by neural activity. Here we review our current understanding of how integral membrane and secreted proteins important for neuronal function travel from their sites of synthesis to their functional destinations. We discuss how unique adaptations to the function and distribution of neuronal secretory organelles may facilitate local protein trafficking at remote sites in neuronal dendrites to support diverse forms of synaptic plasticity.

Lectins modulate the functional properties of GluN1/GluN3-containing NMDA receptors

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play an essential role in excitatory neurotransmission within the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). NMDARs are heteromultimers containing GluN1, GluN2, and/or GluN3 subunits, thus giving rise to a wide variety of subunit combinations, each with unique functional and pharmacological properties. Importantly, GluN1/GluN3A and GluN1/GluN3B receptors form glycine-gated receptors. Here, we combined electrophysiology with rapid solution exchange in order to determine whether the presence of specific N-glycans and/or interactions with specific lectins regulates the functional properties of GluN1/GluN3A and GluN1/GluN3B receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. We found that removing putative N-glycosylation sites alters the functional properties of GluN1/GluN3B receptors, but has no effect on GluN1/GluN3A receptors. Moreover, we found that the functional properties of both GluN1/GluN3A and GluN1/GluN3B receptors are modulated by a variety of lectins, including Concanavalin A (ConA), Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA), and Aleuria Aurantia Lectin (AAL), and this effect is likely mediated by a reduction in GluN1 subunit-mediated desensitization. We also found that AAL has the most profound effect on GluN1/GluN3 receptors, and this effect is mediated partly by a single N-glycosylation site on the GluN3 subunit (specifically, N565 on GluN3A and N465 on GluN3B). Finally, we found that lectins mediate their effect only when applied to non-activated receptors and have no effect when applied in the continuous presence of glycine. These findings provide further evidence to distinguish GluN1/GluN3 receptors from the canonical GluN1/GluN2 receptors and offer insight into how GluN1/GluN3 receptors may be regulated in the mammalian CNS.

N-Glycosylation Regulates the Trafficking and Surface Mobility of GluN3A-Containing NMDA Receptors

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play critical roles in both excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. NMDARs containing the nonconventional GluN3A subunit have different functional properties compared to receptors comprised of GluN1/GluN2 subunits. Previous studies showed that GluN1/GluN2 receptors are regulated by N-glycosylation; however, limited information is available regarding the role of N-glycosylation in GluN3A-containing NMDARs. Using a combination of microscopy, biochemistry, and electrophysiology in mammalian cell lines and rat hippocampal neurons, we found that two asparagine residues (N203 and N368) in the GluN1 subunit and three asparagine residues (N145, N264 and N275) in the GluN3A subunit are required for surface delivery of GluN3A-containing NMDARs. Furthermore, deglycosylation and lectin-based analysis revealed that GluN3A subunits contain extensively modified N-glycan structures, including hybrid/complex forms of N-glycans. We also found (either using a panel of inhibitors or by studying human fibroblasts derived from patients with a congenital disorder of glycosylation) that N-glycan remodeling is not required for the surface delivery of GluN3A-containing NMDARs. Finally, we found that the surface mobility of GluN3A-containing NMDARs in hippocampal neurons is increased following incubation with 1-deoxymannojirimycin (DMM, an inhibitor of the formation of the hybrid/complex forms of N-glycans) and decreased in the presence of specific lectins. These findings provide new insight regarding the mechanisms by which neurons can regulate NMDAR trafficking and function.

N-glycan content modulates kainate receptor functional properties

KEY POINTS

Ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) subunits are N-glycosylated at 4-12 sites, and Golgi processing produces mature receptors that contain high-mannose, hybrid and complex oligosaccharides. N-glycosylation is crucial for receptor biogenesis, influences receptor trafficking and provides a binding site for carbohydrate binding proteins. Glycan moieties are large, polar and occasionally charged, and they are attached at sites along iGluRs that position them for involvement in the structural changes underlying gating. Altering glycan content on kainate receptors (KARs), a subfamily of iGluRs, changes functional properties of the receptor, such as desensitization, recovery from desensitization and deactivation. We report the first observation that the charged trisaccharide HNK-1 is conjugated to native KARs, and we find that it substantially alters recombinant KAR functional properties. Our results show that the molecular composition of N-glycans can influence KAR biophysical properties, revealing a potential mechanism for fine-tuning the function of these receptors.

ABSTRACT

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are tetrameric proteins with between four and 12 consensus sites for N-glycosylation on each subunit, which potentially allows for a high degree of structural diversity conferred by this post-translational modification. N-glycosylation is required for proper folding of iGluRs in mammalian cells, although the impact of oligosaccharides on the function of successfully folded receptors is less clear. Glycan moieties are large, polar, occasionally charged and mediate many protein-protein interactions throughout the nervous system. Additionally, they are attached at sites along iGluR subunits that position them for involvement in the structural changes underlying gating. In the present study, we show that altering glycan content on kainate receptors (KARs) changes the functional properties of the receptors in a manner dependent on the identity of both the modified sugars and the subunit composition of the receptor to which they are attached. We also report that native KARs carry the complex capping oligosaccharide human natural killer-1. Glycosylation patterns probably differ between cell types, across development or with pathologies, and thus our findings reveal a potential mechanism for context-specific fine-tuning of KAR function through diversity in glycan structure.

Altered fucosyltransferase expression in the superior temporal gyrus of elderly patients with schizophrenia

Glycosylation is a post-translational modification that is an essential element in cell signaling and neurodevelopmental pathway regulation. Glycan attachment can influence the tertiary structure and molecular interactions of glycosylated substrates, adding an additional layer of regulatory complexity to functional mechanisms underlying central cell biological processes. One type of enzyme-mediated glycan attachment, fucosylation, can mediate glycoprotein and glycolipid cell surface expression, trafficking, secretion, and quality control to modulate a variety of inter- and intracellular signaling cascades. Building on prior reports of glycosylation abnormalities and evidence of dysregulated glycosylation enzyme expression in schizophrenia, we examined the protein expression of 5 key fucose-modifying enzymes: GDP-fucose:protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1), GDP-fucose:protein O-fucosyltransferase 2 (POFUT2), fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8), fucosyltransferase 11 (FUT11), and plasma α-l-fucosidase (FUCA2) in postmortem superior temporal gyrus of schizophrenia (N=16) and comparison (N=14) subjects. We also used the fucose binding protein, Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL), to assess α-1,6-fucosylated N-glycoprotein abundance in the same subjects. In schizophrenia, we found increased expression of POFUT2, a fucosyltransferase uniquely responsible for O-fucosylation of thrombospondin-like repeat domains that is involved in a non-canonical endoplasmic reticulum quality control pathway. We also found decreased expression of FUT8 in schizophrenia. Given that FUT8 is the only α-1,6-fucosyltransferase expressed in mammals, the concurrent decrease in AAL binding in schizophrenia, particularly evident for N-glycoproteins in the ~52-58kDa and ~60-70kDa molecular mass ranges, likely reflects a consequence of abnormal FUT8 expression in the disorder. Dysregulated FUT8 and POFUT2 expression could potentially explain a variety of molecular abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Neto2 Assembles with Kainate Receptors in DRG Neurons during Development and Modulates Neurite Outgrowth in Adult Sensory Neurons

Peripheral sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are the initial transducers of sensory stimuli, including painful stimuli, from the periphery to central sensory and pain-processing centers. Small- to medium-diameter non-peptidergic neurons in the neonatal DRG express functional kainate receptors (KARs), one of three subfamilies of ionotropic glutamate receptors, as well as the putative KAR auxiliary subunit Neuropilin- and tolloid-like 2 (Neto2). Neto2 alters recombinant KAR function markedly but has yet to be confirmed as an auxiliary subunit that assembles with and alters the function of endogenous KARs. KARs in neonatal DRG require the GluK1 subunit as a necessary constituent, but it is unclear to what extent other KAR subunits contribute to the function and proposed roles of KARs in sensory ganglia, which include promotion of neurite outgrowth and modulation of glutamate release at the DRG-dorsal horn synapse. In addition, KARs containing the GluK1 subunit are implicated in modes of persistent but not acute pain signaling. We show here that the Neto2 protein is highly expressed in neonatal DRG and modifies KAR gating in DRG neurons in a developmentally regulated fashion in mice. Although normally at very low levels in adult DRG neurons, Neto2 protein expression can be upregulated via MEK/ERK signaling and after sciatic nerve crush and Neto2^-/- neurons from adult mice have stunted neurite outgrowth. These data confirm that Neto2 is a bona fide KAR auxiliary subunit that is an important constituent of KARs early in sensory neuron development and suggest that Neto2 assembly is critical to KAR modulation of DRG neuron process outgrowth.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Pain-transducing peripheral sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) express kainate receptors (KARs), a subfamily of glutamate receptors that modulate neurite outgrowth and regulate glutamate release at the DRG-dorsal horn synapse. The putative KAR auxiliary subunit Neuropilin- and tolloid-like 2 (Neto2) is also expressed in DRG. We show here that it is a developmentally downregulated but dynamic component of KARs in these neurons, that it contributes to regulated neurite regrowth in adult neurons, and that it is increased in adult mice after nerve injury. Our data confirm Neto2 as a KAR auxiliary subunit and expand our knowledge of the molecular composition of KARs in nociceptive neurons, a key piece in understanding the mechanistic contribution of KAR signaling to pain-processing circuits.

Biochemical and electrophysiological characterization of N-glycans on NMDA receptor subunits

In mammals, excitatory synapses contain two major types of ionotropic glutamate receptors: α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). Both receptor types are comprised of several subunits that are post-translationally modified by N-glycosylation. However, the precise N-glycans that are attached to these receptor types are largely unknown. Here, we used biochemistry to confirm that native NMDARs are extensively N-glycosylated; moreover, we found that the NMDAR GluN2B subunit differs from GluN1 subunits with respect to endoglycosidase H sensitivity. Next, we used a complete panel of lectins to determine the glycan composition of NMDARs in both cerebellar tissue and cultured cerebellar granule cells. Our experiments identified 23 lectins that pulled down both the GluN1 and GluN2B NMDAR subunits. We then performed an electrophysiological analysis using representative lectins and found that pre-incubating cerebellar granule cells with the AAL, WGA, or ConA alters the receptor's biophysical properties; this lectin-mediated effect was eliminated when the cells were deglycosylated with peptide-N-glycosidase F. Similar lectin-mediated effects were observed using HEK293 cells that express recombinant GluN1/GluN2B receptors. Finally, using mutant recombinant GluN subunits expressed in HEK293 cells, we found that 11 out of 12 predicted N-glycosylation sites in GluN1 and 7 out of 7 N-glycosylation sites in GluN2B are occupied by N-glycans. These data provide new insight into the role that N-glycosylation plays in regulating the function of NMDA receptors in the central nervous system. All animal experiments were performed in accordance with relevant institutional ethics guidelines and regulations with respect to protecting animal welfare. We examined the N-glycan composition of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) using deglycosylating enzymes, lectin-based biochemistry, and electrophysiology. Our results revealed that cerebellar NMDARs associate with 23 different lectins that have unique specificities for glycan structures. Furthermore, we found that 11 out of 12 predicted N-glycosylation sites in GluN1 and 7 out of 7 N-glycosylation sites in GluN2B are occupied by N-glycans. These data shed light on the glycan composition of NMDARs, revealing potential targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

The dynamic AMPA receptor extracellular region: a platform for synaptic protein interactions

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are glutamate-gated cation channels that mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Structures of GluA2 homotetramers in distinct functional states, together with simulations, emphasise the loose architecture of the AMPAR extracellular region (ECR). The ECR encompasses ∼80% of the receptor, and consists of the membrane-distal N-terminal domain (NTD) and ligand-binding domain (LBD), which is fused to the ion channel domain. Minimal contacts within and between layers, together with flexible peptide linkers connecting these three domains give rise to an organisation capable of dynamic rearrangements. This building plan is uniquely suited to engage interaction partners in the crowded environment of synapses, permitting the formation of new binding sites and the loss of existing ones. ECR motions are thereby expected to impact signalling as well as synaptic anchorage and may thereby influence AMPAR clustering during synaptic plasticity.

The galectin-1-glycan axis controls sperm fertilizing capacity by regulating sperm motility and membrane hyperpolarization

Lectin-glycan recognition systems play central roles in many physiologic and pathologic processes. We identified a role for galectin-1 (Gal-1), a highly conserved glycan-binding protein, in the control of sperm function. We found that Gal-1 is expressed in the epididymis and associates with sperm during epididymal maturation. Exposure of sperm to Gal-1 resulted in glycan-dependent modulation of the acrosome reaction (AR), a key event in the fertilization process. Gal-1-deficient (Lgals1(-/-)) mice revealed the essential contribution of this lectin for full sperm fertilizing ability both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Lgals1(-/-) sperm exhibited defects in their ability to develop hyperactivation, a vigorous motility required for penetration of the egg vestments. Moreover, Lgals1(-/-) sperm showed a decreased ability to control cell volume and to undergo progesterone-induced AR, phenotypes that were rescued by exposure of the cells to recombinant Gal-1. Interestingly, the AR defect was associated with a deficiency in sperm membrane potential hyperpolarization. Our study highlights the relevance of the Gal-1-glycan axis in sperm function with critical implications in mammalian reproductive biology.

Two N-glycosylation Sites in the GluN1 Subunit Are Essential for Releasing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

NMDA receptors (NMDARs) comprise a subclass of neurotransmitter receptors whose surface expression is regulated at multiple levels, including processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), intracellular trafficking via the Golgi apparatus, internalization, recycling, and degradation. With respect to early processing, NMDARs are regulated by the availability of GluN subunits within the ER, the presence of ER retention and export signals, and posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation and palmitoylation. However, the role of N-glycosylation, one of the most common posttranslational modifications, in regulating NMDAR processing has not been studied in detail. Using biochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy, and electrophysiology in conjunction with a lentivirus-based molecular replacement strategy, we found that NMDARs are released from the ER only when two asparagine residues in the GluN1 subunit (Asn-203 and Asn-368) are N-glycosylated. Although the GluN2A and GluN2B subunits are also N-glycosylated, their N-glycosylation sites do not appear to be essential for surface delivery of NMDARs. Furthermore, we found that removing N-glycans from native NMDARs altered the receptor affinity for glutamate. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which neurons ensure that postsynaptic membranes contain sufficient numbers of functional NMDARs.