1
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Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Munguba H, Levitz J. Emerging modes of regulation of neuromodulatory G protein-coupled receptors. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00088-2. [PMID: 38862331 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
In the nervous system, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, and, ultimately, behavior through spatiotemporally precise initiation of a variety of signaling pathways. However, despite their critical importance, there is incomplete understanding of how these receptors are regulated to tune their signaling to specific neurophysiological contexts. A deeper mechanistic picture of neuromodulatory GPCR function is needed to fully decipher their biological roles and effectively harness them for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this review, we highlight recent progress in identifying novel modes of regulation of neuromodulatory GPCRs, including G protein- and receptor-targeting mechanisms, receptor-receptor crosstalk, and unique features that emerge in the context of chemical synapses. These emerging principles of neuromodulatory GPCR tuning raise critical questions to be tackled at the molecular, cellular, synaptic, and neural circuit levels in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hermany Munguba
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Psychiatry, 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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2
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Sachs S, Reinhard S, Eilts J, Sauer M, Werner C. Visualizing the trans-synaptic arrangement of synaptic proteins by expansion microscopy. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1328726. [PMID: 38486709 PMCID: PMC10937466 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1328726] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
High fidelity synaptic neurotransmission in the millisecond range is provided by a defined structural arrangement of synaptic proteins. At the presynapse multi-epitope scaffolding proteins are organized spatially at release sites to guarantee optimal binding of neurotransmitters at receptor clusters. The organization of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in trans-synaptic nanocolumns would thus intuitively support efficient information transfer at the synapse. Visualization of these protein-dense regions as well as the minute size of protein-packed synaptic clefts remains, however, challenging. To enable efficient labeling of these protein complexes, we developed post-gelation immunolabeling expansion microscopy combined with Airyscan super-resolution microscopy. Using ~8-fold expanded samples, Airyscan enables multicolor fluorescence imaging with 20-40 nm spatial resolution. Post-immunolabeling of decrowded (expanded) samples provides increased labeling efficiency and allows the visualization of trans-synaptic nanocolumns. Our approach is ideally suited to investigate the pathological impact on nanocolumn arrangement e.g., in limbic encephalitis with autoantibodies targeting trans-synaptic leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 protein (LGI1).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Lohse MJ, Bock A, Zaccolo M. G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling: New Insights Define Cellular Nanodomains. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 64:387-415. [PMID: 37683278 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-040623-115054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors are the largest and pharmacologically most important receptor family and are involved in the regulation of most cell functions. Most of them reside exclusively at the cell surface, from where they signal via heterotrimeric G proteins to control the production of second messengers such as cAMP and IP3 as well as the activity of several ion channels. However, they may also internalize upon agonist stimulation or constitutively reside in various intracellular locations. Recent evidence indicates that their function differs depending on their precise cellular localization. This is because the signals they produce, notably cAMP and Ca2+, are mostly bound to cell proteins that significantly reduce their mobility, allowing the generation of steep concentration gradients. As a result, signals generated by the receptors remain confined to nanometer-sized domains. We propose that such nanometer-sized domains represent the basic signaling units in a cell and a new type of target for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Lohse
- ISAR Bioscience Institute, Planegg/Munich, Germany;
- Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Bock
- Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuela Zaccolo
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and National Institute for Health and Care Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;
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4
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Fessl T, Majellaro M, Bondar A. Microscopy and spectroscopy approaches to study GPCR structure and function. Br J Pharmacol 2023. [PMID: 38087925 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The GPCR signalling cascade is a key pathway responsible for the signal transduction of a multitude of physical and chemical stimuli, including light, odorants, neurotransmitters and hormones. Understanding the structural and functional properties of the GPCR cascade requires direct observation of signalling processes in high spatial and temporal resolution, with minimal perturbation to endogenous systems. Optical microscopy and spectroscopy techniques are uniquely suited to this purpose because they excel at multiple spatial and temporal scales and can be used in living objects. Here, we review recent developments in microscopy and spectroscopy technologies which enable new insights into GPCR signalling. We focus on advanced techniques with high spatial and temporal resolution, single-molecule methods, labelling strategies and approaches suitable for endogenous systems and large living objects. This review aims to assist researchers in choosing appropriate microscopy and spectroscopy approaches for a variety of applications in the study of cellular signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Fessl
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Alexey Bondar
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Microscopy and Histology, Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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5
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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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6
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Sclip A, Südhof TC. Combinatorial expression of neurexins and LAR-type phosphotyrosine phosphatase receptors instructs assembly of a cerebellar circuit. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4976. [PMID: 37591863 PMCID: PMC10435579 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40526-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic adhesion molecules (SAMs) shape the structural and functional properties of synapses and thereby control the information processing power of neural circuits. SAMs are broadly expressed in the brain, suggesting that they may instruct synapse formation and specification via a combinatorial logic. Here, we generate sextuple conditional knockout mice targeting all members of the two major families of presynaptic SAMs, Neurexins and leukocyte common antigen-related-type receptor phospho-tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-PTPRs), which together account for the majority of known trans-synaptic complexes. Using synapses formed by cerebellar Purkinje cells onto deep cerebellar nuclei as a model system, we confirm that Neurexins and LAR-PTPRs themselves are not essential for synapse assembly. The combinatorial deletion of both neurexins and LAR-PTPRs, however, decreases Purkinje-cell synapses on deep cerebellar nuclei, the major output pathway of cerebellar circuits. Consistent with this finding, combined but not separate deletions of neurexins and LAR-PTPRs impair motor behaviors. Thus, Neurexins and LAR-PTPRs are together required for the assembly of a functional cerebellar circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sclip
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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7
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Scalisi S, Pisignano D, Cella Zanacchi F. Single-molecule localization microscopy goes quantitative. Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:494-504. [PMID: 36601697 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24281] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In the last few years, single-molecule localization (SMLM) techniques have been used to address biological questions in different research fields. More recently, super-resolution has also been proposed as a quantitative tool for quantifying protein copy numbers at the nanoscale level. In this scenario, quantitative approaches, mainly based on stepwise photobleaching and quantitative SMLM assisted by calibration standards, offer an exquisite tool for investigating protein complexes. This primer focuses on the basic concepts behind quantitative super-resolution microscopy, also providing strategies to overcome the technical hurdles that could limit their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Scalisi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Nanoscopy and NIC@IIT, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Dario Pisignano
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E. Fermi", Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Cella Zanacchi
- Nanoscopy and NIC@IIT, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica "E. Fermi", Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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8
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Revealing the tissue-level complexity of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor expression and signaling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:301. [PMID: 36653347 PMCID: PMC9849236 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35716-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in glucose homeostasis and food intake. GLP1R agonists (GLP1RA) are widely used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, yet visualizing the endogenous localization, organization and dynamics of a GPCR has so far remained out of reach. In the present study, we generate mice harboring an enzyme self-label genome-edited into the endogenous Glp1r locus. We also rationally design and test various fluorescent dyes, spanning cyan to far-red wavelengths, for labeling performance in tissue. By combining these technologies, we show that endogenous GLP1R can be specifically and sensitively detected in primary tissue using multiple colors. Longitudinal analysis of GLP1R dynamics reveals heterogeneous recruitment of neighboring cell subpopulations into signaling and trafficking, with differences observed between GLP1RA classes and dual agonists. At the nanoscopic level, GLP1Rs are found to possess higher organization, undergoing GLP1RA-dependent membrane diffusion. Together, these results show the utility of enzyme self-labels for visualization and interrogation of endogenous proteins, and provide insight into the biology of a class B GPCR in primary cells and tissue.
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9
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A versatile Halo- and SNAP-tagged BMP/TGFβ receptor library for quantification of cell surface ligand binding. Commun Biol 2023; 6:34. [PMID: 36635368 PMCID: PMC9837045 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
TGFβs, BMPs and Activins regulate numerous developmental and homeostatic processes and signal through hetero-tetrameric receptor complexes composed of two types of serine/threonine kinase receptors. Each of the 33 different ligands possesses unique affinities towards specific receptor types. However, the lack of specific tools hampered simultaneous testing of ligand binding towards all BMP/TGFβ receptors. Here we present a N-terminally Halo- and SNAP-tagged TGFβ/BMP receptor library to visualize receptor complexes in dual color. In combination with fluorescently labeled ligands, we established a Ligand Surface Binding Assay (LSBA) for optical quantification of receptor-dependent ligand binding in a cellular context. We highlight that LSBA is generally applicable to test (i) binding of different ligands such as Activin A, TGFβ1 and BMP9, (ii) for mutant screens and (iii) evolutionary comparisons. This experimental set-up opens opportunities for visualizing ligand-receptor binding dynamics, essential to determine signaling specificity and is easily adaptable for other receptor signaling pathways.
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10
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Filamin A organizes γ‑aminobutyric acid type B receptors at the plasma membrane. Nat Commun 2023; 14:34. [PMID: 36596803 PMCID: PMC9810740 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35708-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor is a prototypical family C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays a key role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Although growing evidence suggests that GPCR signaling in neurons might be highly organized in time and space, limited information is available about the mechanisms controlling the nanoscale organization of GABAB receptors and other GPCRs on the neuronal plasma membrane. Using a combination of biochemical assays in vitro, single-particle tracking, and super-resolution microscopy, we provide evidence that the spatial organization and diffusion of GABAB receptors on the plasma membrane are governed by dynamic interactions with filamin A, which tethers the receptors to sub-cortical actin filaments. We further show that GABAB receptors are located together with filamin A in small nanodomains in hippocampal neurons. These interactions are mediated by the first intracellular loop of the GABAB1 subunit and modulate the kinetics of Gαi protein activation in response to GABA stimulation.
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11
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Quantifying postsynaptic receptor dynamics: insights into synaptic function. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:4-22. [PMID: 36352031 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00647-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The molecular composition of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal terminals is dynamic, and yet long-term stabilizations in postsynaptic responses are necessary for synaptic development and long-term plasticity. The need to reconcile these concepts is further complicated by learning- and memory-related plastic changes in the molecular make-up of synapses. Advances in single-particle tracking mean that we can now quantify the number and diffusive properties of specific synaptic molecules, while statistical thermodynamics provides a framework to analyse these molecular fluctuations. In this Review, we discuss the use of these approaches to gain quantitative descriptions of the processes underlying the turnover, long-term stability and plasticity of postsynaptic receptors and show how these can help us to understand the balance between local molecular turnover and synaptic structural identity and integrity.
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12
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Zhai RG. The Architecture of the Presynaptic Release Site. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 33:1-21. [PMID: 37615861 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The architecture of the presynaptic release site is exquisitely designed to facilitate and regulate synaptic vesicle exocytosis. With the identification of some of the building blocks of the active zone and the advent of super resolution imaging techniques, we are beginning to understand the morphological and functional properties of synapses in great detail. Presynaptic release sites consist of the plasma membrane, the cytomatrix, and dense projections. These three components are morphologically distinct but intimately connected with each other and with postsynaptic specializations, ensuring the fidelity of synaptic vesicle tethering, docking, and fusion, as well as signal detection. Although the morphology and molecular compositions of active zones may vary among species, tissues, and cells, global architectural design of the release sites is highly conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Grace Zhai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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13
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Zhang W, Jiang HH, Luo F. Diverse organization of voltage-gated calcium channels at presynaptic active zones. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 14:1023256. [PMID: 36544543 PMCID: PMC9760684 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2022.1023256] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are highly organized but are also highly diverse in their organization and properties to allow for optimizing the computing power of brain circuits. Along these lines, voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels at the presynaptic active zone are heterogeneously organized, which creates a variety of calcium dynamics profiles that can shape neurotransmitter release properties of individual synapses. Extensive studies have revealed striking diversity in the subtype, number, and distribution of CaV channels, as well as the nanoscale topographic relationships to docked synaptic vesicles. Further, multi-protein complexes including RIMs, RIM-binding proteins, CAST/ELKS, and neurexins are required for coordinating the diverse organization of CaV channels at the presynaptic active zone. In this review, we highlight major advances in the studies of the functional organization of presynaptic CaV channels and discuss their physiological implications for synaptic transmission and short-term plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Zhang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China,Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - He-Hai Jiang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fujun Luo
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Fujun Luo
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14
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Lycas MD, Ejdrup AL, Sørensen AT, Haahr NO, Jørgensen SH, Guthrie DA, Støier JF, Werner C, Newman AH, Sauer M, Herborg F, Gether U. Nanoscopic dopamine transporter distribution and conformation are inversely regulated by excitatory drive and D2 autoreceptor activity. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111431. [PMID: 36170827 PMCID: PMC9617621 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The nanoscopic organization and regulation of individual molecular components in presynaptic varicosities of neurons releasing modulatory volume neurotransmitters like dopamine (DA) remain largely elusive. Here we show, by application of several super-resolution microscopy techniques to cultured neurons and mouse striatal slices, that the DA transporter (DAT), a key protein in varicosities of dopaminergic neurons, exists in the membrane in dynamic equilibrium between an inward-facing nanodomain-localized and outward-facing unclustered configuration. The balance between these configurations is inversely regulated by excitatory drive and DA D2 autoreceptor activation in a manner dependent on Ca2+ influx via N-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The DAT nanodomains contain tens of transporters molecules and overlap with nanodomains of PIP2 (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate) but show little overlap with D2 autoreceptor, syntaxin-1, and clathrin nanodomains. The data reveal a mechanism for rapid alterations of nanoscopic DAT distribution and show a striking link of this to the conformational state of the transporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Lycas
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aske L Ejdrup
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas T Sørensen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolai O Haahr
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren H Jørgensen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daryl A Guthrie
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jonatan F Støier
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Freja Herborg
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Gether
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Maersk Tower 7.5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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15
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Milstein JN, Nino DF, Zhou X, Gradinaru CC. Single-molecule counting applied to the study of GPCR oligomerization. Biophys J 2022; 121:3175-3187. [PMID: 35927960 PMCID: PMC9463696 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-molecule counting techniques enable a precise determination of the intracellular abundance and stoichiometry of proteins and macromolecular complexes. These details are often challenging to quantitatively assess yet are essential for our understanding of cellular function. Consider G-protein-coupled receptors-an expansive class of transmembrane signaling proteins that participate in many vital physiological functions making them a popular target for drug development. While early evidence for the role of oligomerization in receptor signaling came from ensemble biochemical and biophysical assays, innovations in single-molecule measurements are now driving a paradigm shift in our understanding of its relevance. Here, we review recent developments in single-molecule counting with a focus on photobleaching step counting and the emerging technique of quantitative single-molecule localization microscopy-with a particular emphasis on the potential for these techniques to advance our understanding of the role of oligomerization in G-protein-coupled receptor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua N Milstein
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Daniel F Nino
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaohan Zhou
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Claudiu C Gradinaru
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
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16
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Re-examination of the determinants of synaptic strength from the perspective of superresolution imaging. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 74:102540. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Li H, Warden AR, He J, Shen G, Ding X. Expansion microscopy with ninefold swelling (NIFS) hydrogel permits cellular ultrastructure imaging on conventional microscope. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm4006. [PMID: 35507653 PMCID: PMC9067917 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm4006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Superresolution microscopy enables probing of cellular ultrastructures. However, its widespread applications are limited by the need for expensive machinery, specific hardware, and sophisticated data processing. Expansion microscopy (ExM) improves the resolution of conventional microscopy by physically expanding biological specimens before imaging and currently provides ~70-nm resolution, which still lags behind that of modern superresolution microscopy (~30 nm). Here, we demonstrate a ninefold swelling (NIFS) hydrogel, that can reduce ExM resolution to 31 nm when using regular traditional microscopy. We also design a detachable chip that integrates all the experimental operations to facilitate the maximal reproducibility of this high-resolution imaging technology. We demonstrate this technique on the superimaging of nuclear pore complex and clathrin-coated pits, whose structures can hardly be resolved by conventional microscopy. The method presented here offers a universal platform with superresolution imaging to unveil cellular ultrastructural details using standard conventional laboratory microscopes.
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18
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Bodzęta A, Berger F, MacGillavry HD. Subsynaptic mobility of presynaptic mGluR types is differentially regulated by intra- and extracellular interactions. Mol Biol Cell 2022; 33:ar66. [PMID: 35511883 PMCID: PMC9635276 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-10-0484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are essential for the control of synaptic transmission. However, how the subsynaptic dynamics of these receptors is controlled and contributes to synaptic signaling remain poorly understood quantitatively. Particularly, since the affinity of individual mGluR subtypes for glutamate differs considerably, the activation of mGluR subtypes critically depends on their precise subsynaptic distribution. Here, using superresolution microscopy and single-molecule tracking, we unravel novel molecular mechanisms that control the nanoscale distribution and mobility of presynaptic mGluRs in hippocampal neurons. We demonstrate that the high-affinity group II receptor mGluR2 localizes diffusely along the axon, and is highly mobile, while the low-affinity group III receptor mGluR7 is stably anchored at the active zone. We demonstrate that intracellular interactions modulate surface diffusion of mGluR2, while immobilization of mGluR7 at the active zone relies on its extracellular domain. Receptor activation or increases in synaptic activity do not alter the surface mobility of presynaptic mGluRs. Finally, computational modeling of presynaptic mGluR activity revealed that this particular nanoscale arrangement directly impacts their ability to modulate neurotransmitter release. Altogether, this study demonstrates that distinct mechanisms control surface mobility of presynaptic mGluRs to contribute differentially to glutamatergic synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bodzęta
- Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Florian Berger
- Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Harold 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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19
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Zhang X, Lin PY, Liakath-Ali K, Südhof TC. Teneurins assemble into presynaptic nanoclusters that promote synapse formation via postsynaptic non-teneurin ligands. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2297. [PMID: 35484136 PMCID: PMC9050732 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29751-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies concluded that homophilic interactions between pre- and postsynaptic teneurins, evolutionarily conserved cell-adhesion molecules, encode the specificity of synaptic connections. However, no direct evidence is available to demonstrate that teneurins are actually required on both pre- and postsynaptic neurons for establishing synaptic connections, nor is it known whether teneurins are localized to synapses. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate that Teneurin-3 assembles into presynaptic nanoclusters of approximately 80 nm in most excitatory synapses of the hippocampus. Presynaptic deletions of Teneurin-3 and Teneurin-4 in the medial entorhinal cortex revealed that they are required for assembly of entorhinal cortex-CA1, entorhinal cortex-subiculum, and entorhinal cortex-dentate gyrus synapses. Postsynaptic deletions of teneurins in the CA1 region, however, had no effect on synaptic connections from any presynaptic input. Our data suggest that different from the current prevailing view, teneurins promote the establishment of synaptic connections exclusively as presynaptic cell-adhesion molecules, most likely via their nanomolar-affinity binding to postsynaptic latrophilins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuchen Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Pei-Yi Lin
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Kif Liakath-Ali
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Thomas C. Südhof
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
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20
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Atomic force microscopy-single-molecule force spectroscopy unveils GPCR cell surface architecture. Commun Biol 2022; 5:221. [PMID: 35273337 PMCID: PMC8913689 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03162-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest family of cell surface receptors. Despite considerable insights into their pharmacology, the GPCR architecture at the cell surface still remains largely unexplored. Herein, we present the specific unfolding of different GPCRs at the surface of living mammalian cells by atomic force microscopy-based single molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS). Mathematical analysis of the GPCR unfolding distances at resting state revealed the presence of different receptor populations relying on distinct oligomeric states which are receptor-specific and receptor expression-dependent. Moreover, we show that the oligomer size dictates the receptor spatial organization with nanoclusters of high-order oligomers while lower-order complexes spread over the whole cell surface. Finally, the receptor activity reshapes both the oligomeric populations and their spatial arrangement. These results add an additional level of complexity to the GPCR pharmacology until now considered to arise from a single receptor population at the cell surface. Atomic force microscopy-based single molecule force spectroscopy reveals the unfolding of G-protein coupled receptors on the surface of living mammalian cells.
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21
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Unterauer EM, Jungmann R. Quantitative Imaging With DNA-PAINT for Applications in Synaptic Neuroscience. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 13:798267. [PMID: 35197837 PMCID: PMC8860300 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.798267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Super-resolution (SR) microscopy techniques have been advancing the understanding of neuronal protein networks and interactions. Unraveling the arrangement of proteins with molecular resolution provided novel insights into neuron cytoskeleton structure and actin polymerization dynamics in synaptic spines. Recent improvements in quantitative SR imaging have been applied to synaptic protein clusters and with improved multiplexing technology, the interplay of multiple protein partners in synaptic active zones has been elucidated. While all SR techniques come with benefits and drawbacks, true molecular quantification is a major challenge with the most complex requirements for labeling reagents and careful experimental design. In this perspective, we provide an overview of quantitative SR multiplexing and discuss in greater detail the quantification and multiplexing capabilities of the SR technique DNA-PAINT. Using predictable binding kinetics of short oligonucleotides, DNA-PAINT provides two unique approaches to address multiplexed molecular quantification: qPAINT and Exchange-PAINT. With precise and accurate quantification and spectrally unlimited multiplexing, DNA-PAINT offers an attractive route to unravel complex protein interaction networks in neurons. Finally, while the SR community has been pushing technological advances from an imaging technique perspective, the development of universally available, small, efficient, and quantitative labels remains a major challenge in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard M. Unterauer
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ralf Jungmann
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ralf Jungmann,
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22
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Kuhlemann A, Beliu G, Janzen D, Petrini EM, Taban D, Helmerich DA, Doose S, Bruno M, Barberis A, Villmann C, Sauer M, Werner C. Genetic Code Expansion and Click-Chemistry Labeling to Visualize GABA-A Receptors by Super-Resolution Microscopy. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:727406. [PMID: 34899260 PMCID: PMC8664562 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.727406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence labeling of difficult to access protein sites, e.g., in confined compartments, requires small fluorescent labels that can be covalently tethered at well-defined positions with high efficiency. Here, we report site-specific labeling of the extracellular domain of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptor subunits by genetic code expansion (GCE) with unnatural amino acids (ncAA) combined with bioorthogonal click-chemistry labeling with tetrazine dyes in HEK-293-T cells and primary cultured neurons. After optimization of GABA-A receptor expression and labeling efficiency, most effective variants were selected for super-resolution microscopy and functionality testing by whole-cell patch clamp. Our results show that GCE with ncAA and bioorthogonal click labeling with small tetrazine dyes represents a versatile method for highly efficient site-specific fluorescence labeling of proteins in a crowded environment, e.g., extracellular protein domains in confined compartments such as the synaptic cleft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kuhlemann
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerti Beliu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Janzen
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Enrica Maria Petrini
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Danush Taban
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dominic A Helmerich
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sören Doose
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martina Bruno
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Barberis
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Carmen Villmann
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Würzburg, Germany
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23
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Membrane trafficking and positioning of mGluRs at presynaptic and postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses. Neuropharmacology 2021; 200:108799. [PMID: 34592242 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The plethora of functions of glutamate in the brain are mediated by the complementary actions of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). The ionotropic glutamate receptors carry most of the fast excitatory transmission, while mGluRs modulate transmission on longer timescales by triggering multiple intracellular signaling pathways. As such, mGluRs mediate critical aspects of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Interestingly, at synapses, mGluRs operate at both sides of the cleft, and thus bidirectionally exert the effects of glutamate. At postsynaptic sites, group I mGluRs act to modulate excitability and plasticity. At presynaptic sites, group II and III mGluRs act as auto-receptors, modulating release properties in an activity-dependent manner. Thus, synaptic mGluRs are essential signal integrators that functionally couple presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms of transmission and plasticity. Understanding how these receptors reach the membrane and are positioned relative to the presynaptic glutamate release site are therefore important aspects of synapse biology. In this review, we will discuss the currently known mechanisms underlying the trafficking and positioning of mGluRs at and around synapses, and how these mechanisms contribute to synaptic functioning. We will highlight outstanding questions and present an outlook on how recent technological developments will move this exciting research field forward.
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24
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Jullié D, Valbret Z, Stoeber M. Optical tools to study the subcellular organization of GPCR neuromodulation. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 366:109408. [PMID: 34763022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of neuronal circuit activity is key to information processing in the brain. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the targets of most neuromodulatory ligands, show extremely diverse expression patterns in neurons and receptors can be localized in various sub-neuronal membrane compartments. Upon activation, GPCRs promote signaling cascades that alter the level of second messengers, drive phosphorylation changes, modulate ion channel function, and influence gene expression, all of which critically impact neuron physiology. Because of its high degree of complexity, this form of interneuronal communication has remained challenging to integrate into our conceptual understanding of brain function. Recent technological advances in fluorescence microscopy and the development of optical biosensors now allow investigating neuromodulation with unprecedented resolution on the level of individual cells. In this review, we will highlight recent imaging techniques that enable determining the precise localization of GPCRs in neurons, with specific focus on the subcellular and nanoscale level. Downstream of receptors, we describe novel conformation-specific biosensors that allow for real-time monitoring of GPCR activation and of distinct signal transduction events in neurons. Applying these new tools has the potential to provide critical insights into the function and organization of GPCRs in neuronal cells and may help decipher the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jullié
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Zoé Valbret
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Stoeber
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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25
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McCullock TW, Kammermeier PJ. The evidence for and consequences of metabotropic glutamate receptor heterodimerization. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108801. [PMID: 34547332 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are an essential component of the mammalian central nervous system. These receptors modulate neuronal excitability in response to extracellular glutamate through the activation of intracellular heterotrimeric G proteins. Like most other class C G protein-coupled receptors, mGluRs function as obligate dimer proteins, meaning they need to form dimer complexes before becoming functional receptors. All mGluRs possess the ability to homodimerize, but studies over the past ten years have demonstrated these receptors are also capable of forming heterodimers in specific patterns. These mGluR heterodimers appear to have their own unique biophysical behavior and pharmacology with both native and synthetic compounds with few rules having been identified that allow for prediction of the consequences of any particular mGluR pair forming heterodimers. Here, we review the relevant literature demonstrating the existence and consequences of mGluR heterodimerization. By collecting biophysical and pharmacological data of several mGluR heterodimers we demonstrate the lack of generalizable behavior of these complexes indicating that each individual dimeric pair needs to be investigated independently. Additionally, by combining sequence alignment and structural analysis, we propose that interactions between the β4-A Helix Loop and the D Helix in the extracellular domain of these receptors are the structural components that dictate heterodimerization compatibility. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of mGluR heterodimerization from the viewpoints of further developing our understanding of neuronal physiology and leveraging mGluRs as a therapeutic target for the treatment of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler W McCullock
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 711, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Paul J Kammermeier
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 711, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
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26
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Abstract
Fluorescence imaging techniques play a pivotal role in our understanding of the nervous system. The emergence of various super-resolution microscopy methods and specialized fluorescent probes enables direct insight into neuronal structure and protein arrangements in cellular subcompartments with so far unmatched resolution. Super-resolving visualization techniques in neurons unveil a novel understanding of cytoskeletal composition, distribution, motility, and signaling of membrane proteins, subsynaptic structure and function, and neuron-glia interaction. Well-defined molecular targets in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease models provide excellent starting points for in-depth investigation of disease pathophysiology using novel and innovative imaging methodology. Application of super-resolution microscopy in human brain samples and for testing clinical biomarkers is still in its infancy but opens new opportunities for translational research in neurology and neuroscience. In this review, we describe how super-resolving microscopy has improved our understanding of neuronal and brain function and dysfunction in the last two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Geis
- Section Translational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
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27
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Joseph MD, Tomas Bort E, Grose RP, McCormick PJ, Simoncelli S. Quantitative Super-Resolution Imaging for the Analysis of GPCR Oligomerization. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101503. [PMID: 34680136 PMCID: PMC8533726 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to form homo- and hetero- oligomers which are considered critical to modulate their function. However, studying the existence and functional implication of these complexes is not straightforward as controversial results are obtained depending on the method of analysis employed. Here, we use a quantitative single molecule super-resolution imaging technique named qPAINT to quantify complex formation within an example GPCR. qPAINT, based upon DNA-PAINT, takes advantage of the binding kinetics between fluorescently labelled DNA imager strands to complementary DNA docking strands coupled to protein targeting antibodies to quantify the protein copy number in nanoscale dimensions. We demonstrate qPAINT analysis via a novel pipeline to study the oligomerization of the purinergic receptor Y2 (P2Y2), a rhodopsin-like GPCR, highly expressed in the pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1, under control, agonistic and antagonistic conditions. Results reveal that whilst the density of P2Y2 receptors remained unchanged, antagonistic conditions displayed reduced percentage of oligomers, and smaller numbers of receptors in complexes. Yet, the oligomeric state of the receptors was not affected by agonist treatment, in line with previous reports. Understanding P2Y2 oligomerization under agonistic and antagonistic conditions will contribute to unravelling P2Y2 mechanistic action and therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan D. Joseph
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London WC1H 0AH, UK;
| | - Elena Tomas Bort
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (E.T.B.); (R.P.G.)
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK;
| | - Richard P. Grose
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (E.T.B.); (R.P.G.)
| | - Peter J. McCormick
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK;
| | - Sabrina Simoncelli
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London WC1H 0AH, UK;
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
- Correspondence:
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28
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Weaver CJ, Poulain FE. From whole organism to ultrastructure: progress in axonal imaging for decoding circuit development. Development 2021; 148:271122. [PMID: 34328171 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Since the pioneering work of Ramón y Cajal, scientists have sought to unravel the complexities of axon development underlying neural circuit formation. Micrometer-scale axonal growth cones navigate to targets that are often centimeters away. To reach their targets, growth cones react to dynamic environmental cues that change in the order of seconds to days. Proper axon growth and guidance are essential to circuit formation, and progress in imaging has been integral to studying these processes. In particular, advances in high- and super-resolution microscopy provide the spatial and temporal resolution required for studying developing axons. In this Review, we describe how improved microscopy has revolutionized our understanding of axonal development. We discuss how novel technologies, specifically light-sheet and super-resolution microscopy, led to new discoveries at the cellular scale by imaging axon outgrowth and circuit wiring with extreme precision. We next examine how advanced microscopy broadened our understanding of the subcellular dynamics driving axon growth and guidance. We finally assess the current challenges that the field of axonal biology still faces for imaging axons, and examine how future technology could meet these needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Fabienne E Poulain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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29
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Zieger HL, Choquet D. Nanoscale synapse organization and dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 158:105453. [PMID: 34314857 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders such as those linked to intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder are thought to originate in part from genetic defects in synaptic proteins. Single gene mutations linked to synapse dysfunction can broadly be separated in three categories: disorders of transcriptional regulation, disorders of synaptic signaling and disorders of synaptic scaffolding and structures. The recent developments in super-resolution imaging technologies and their application to synapses have unraveled a complex nanoscale organization of synaptic components. On the one hand, part of receptors, adhesion proteins, ion channels, scaffold elements and the pre-synaptic release machinery are partitioned in subsynaptic nanodomains, and the respective organization of these nanodomains has tremendous impact on synaptic function. For example, pre-synaptic neurotransmitter release sites are partly aligned with nanometer precision to postsynaptic receptor clusters. On the other hand, a large fraction of synaptic components is extremely dynamic and constantly exchanges between synaptic domains and extrasynaptic or intracellular compartments. It is largely the combination of the exquisitely precise nanoscale synaptic organization of synaptic components and their high dynamic that allows the rapid and profound regulation of synaptic function during synaptic plasticity processes that underlie adaptability of brain function, learning and memory. It is very tempting to speculate that genetic defects that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders and target synaptic scaffolds and structures mediate their deleterious impact on brain function through perturbing synapse nanoscale dynamic organization. We discuss here how applying super-resolution imaging methods in models of neurodevelopmental disorders could help in addressing this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna L Zieger
- 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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30
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Choquet D, Sainlos M, Sibarita JB. Advanced imaging and labelling methods to decipher brain cell organization and function. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:237-255. [PMID: 33712727 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00441-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The brain is arguably the most complex organ. The branched and extended morphology of nerve cells, their subcellular complexity, the multiplicity of brain cell types as well as their intricate connectivity and the scattering properties of brain tissue present formidable challenges to the understanding of brain function. Neuroscientists have often been at the forefront of technological and methodological developments to overcome these hurdles to visualize, quantify and modify cell and network properties. Over the last few decades, the development of advanced imaging methods has revolutionized our approach to explore the brain. Super-resolution microscopy and tissue imaging approaches have recently exploded. These instrumentation-based innovations have occurred in parallel with the development of new molecular approaches to label protein targets, to evolve new biosensors and to target them to appropriate cell types or subcellular compartments. We review the latest developments for labelling and functionalizing proteins with small localization and functionalized reporters. We present how these molecular tools are combined with the development of a wide variety of imaging methods that break either the diffraction barrier or the tissue penetration depth limits. We put these developments in perspective to emphasize how they will enable step changes in our understanding of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Choquet
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France. .,University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center, BIC, UMS 3420, US 4, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Matthieu Sainlos
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Jean-Baptiste Sibarita
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France.
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31
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Yang X, Annaert W. The Nanoscopic Organization of Synapse Structures: A Common Basis for Cell Communication. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:248. [PMID: 33808285 PMCID: PMC8065904 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11040248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Synapse structures, including neuronal and immunological synapses, can be seen as the plasma membrane contact sites between two individual cells where information is transmitted from one cell to the other. The distance between the two plasma membranes is only a few tens of nanometers, but these areas are densely populated with functionally different proteins, including adhesion proteins, receptors, and transporters. The narrow space between the two plasma membranes has been a barrier for resolving the synaptic architecture due to the diffraction limit in conventional microscopy (~250 nm). Various advanced super-resolution microscopy techniques, such as stimulated emission depletion (STED), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), bypass the diffraction limit and provide a sub-diffraction-limit resolving power, ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The studies using super-resolution microscopy have revealed unprecedented details of the nanoscopic organization and dynamics of synaptic molecules. In general, most synaptic proteins appear to be heterogeneously distributed and form nanodomains at the membranes. These nanodomains are dynamic functional units, playing important roles in mediating signal transmission through synapses. Herein, we discuss our current knowledge on the super-resolution nanoscopic architecture of synapses and their functional implications, with a particular focus on the neuronal synapses and immune synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wim Annaert
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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32
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He H, Liu L, Chen X, Wang Q, Wang X, Nau WM, Huang F. Carbon Dot Blinking Enables Accurate Molecular Counting at Nanoscale Resolution. Anal Chem 2021; 93:3968-3975. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hua He
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Lihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Xiaoliang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Werner M. Nau
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, Bremen 28759, Germany
| | - Fang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and College of Chemical Engineering China, University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
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33
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A quantitative view on multivalent nanomedicine targeting. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 169:1-21. [PMID: 33264593 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although the concept of selective delivery has been postulated over 100 years ago, no targeted nanomedicine has been clinically approved so far. Nanoparticles modified with targeting ligands to promote the selective delivery of therapeutics towards a specific cell population have been extensively reported. However, the rational design of selective particles is still challenging. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of quantitative theoretical and experimental understanding of the interactions involved in cell targeting. In this review, we discuss new theoretical models and experimental methods that provide a quantitative view of targeting. We show the new advancements in multivalency theory enabling the rational design of super-selective nanoparticles. Furthermore, we present the innovative approaches to obtain key targeting parameters at the single-cell and single molecule level and their role in the design of targeting nanoparticles. We believe that the combination of new theoretical multivalent design and experimental methods to quantify receptors and ligands aids in the rational design and clinical translation of targeted nanomedicines.
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34
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Yuan Y, Jacobs CA, Llorente Garcia I, Pereira PM, Lawrence SP, Laine RF, Marsh M, Henriques R. Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Imaging of T-Cell Plasma Membrane CD4 Redistribution upon HIV-1 Binding. Viruses 2021; 13:142. [PMID: 33478139 PMCID: PMC7835772 DOI: 10.3390/v13010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The first step of cellular entry for the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) occurs through the binding of its envelope protein (Env) with the plasma membrane receptor CD4 and co-receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 on susceptible cells, primarily CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Although there is considerable knowledge of the molecular interactions between Env and host cell receptors that lead to successful fusion, the precise way in which HIV-1 receptors redistribute to sites of virus binding at the nanoscale remains unknown. Here, we quantitatively examine changes in the nanoscale organisation of CD4 on the surface of CD4+ T cells following HIV-1 binding. Using single-molecule super-resolution imaging, we show that CD4 molecules are distributed mostly as either individual molecules or small clusters of up to 4 molecules. Following virus binding, we observe a local 3-to-10-fold increase in cluster diameter and molecule number for virus-associated CD4 clusters. Moreover, a similar but smaller magnitude reorganisation of CD4 was also observed with recombinant gp120. For one of the first times, our results quantify the nanoscale CD4 reorganisation triggered by HIV-1 on host CD4+ T cells. Our quantitative approach provides a robust methodology for characterising the nanoscale organisation of plasma membrane receptors in general with the potential to link spatial organisation to function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yuan
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
| | - Caron A. Jacobs
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | | | - Pedro M. Pereira
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
- Bacterial Cell Biology, MOSTMICRO, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Scott P. Lawrence
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
| | - Romain F. Laine
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mark Marsh
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
| | - Ricardo Henriques
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK; (Y.Y.); (C.A.J.); (P.M.P.); (S.P.L.)
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
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35
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Imaging of spine synapses using super-resolution microscopy. Anat Sci Int 2021; 96:343-358. [PMID: 33459976 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-021-00603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal circuits in the neocortex and hippocampus are essential for higher brain functions such as motor learning and spatial memory. In the mammalian forebrain, most excitatory synapses of pyramidal neurons are formed on spines, which are tiny protrusions extending from the dendritic shaft. The spine contains specialized molecular machinery that regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity. Spine size correlates with the efficacy of synaptic transmission, and spine morphology affects signal transduction at the post-synaptic compartment. Plasticity-related changes in the structural and molecular organization of spine synapses are thought to underlie the cellular basis of learning and memory. Recent advances in super-resolution microscopy have revealed the molecular mechanisms of the nanoscale synaptic structures regulating synaptic transmission and plasticity in living neurons, which are difficult to investigate using electron microscopy alone. In this review, we summarize recent advances in super-resolution imaging of spine synapses and discuss the implications of nanoscale structures in the regulation of synaptic function, learning, and memory.
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36
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Carvalhais LG, Martinho VC, Ferreiro E, Pinheiro PS. Unraveling the Nanoscopic Organization and Function of Central Mammalian Presynapses With Super-Resolution Microscopy. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:578409. [PMID: 33584169 PMCID: PMC7874199 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.578409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex, nanoscopic scale of neuronal function, taking place at dendritic spines, axon terminals, and other minuscule structures, cannot be adequately resolved using standard, diffraction-limited imaging techniques. The last couple of decades saw a rapid evolution of imaging methods that overcome the diffraction limit imposed by Abbe's principle. These techniques, including structured illumination microscopy (SIM), stimulated emission depletion (STED), photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM), and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), among others, have revolutionized our understanding of synapse biology. By exploiting the stochastic nature of fluorophore light/dark states or non-linearities in the interaction of fluorophores with light, by using modified illumination strategies that limit the excitation area, these methods can achieve spatial resolutions down to just a few tens of nm or less. Here, we review how these advanced imaging techniques have contributed to unprecedented insight into the nanoscopic organization and function of mammalian neuronal presynapses, revealing new organizational principles or lending support to existing views, while raising many important new questions. We further discuss recent technical refinements and newly developed tools that will continue to expand our ability to delve deeper into how synaptic function is orchestrated at the nanoscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia G Carvalhais
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vera C Martinho
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo S Pinheiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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37
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Lelek M, Gyparaki MT, Beliu G, Schueder F, Griffié J, Manley S, Jungmann R, Sauer M, Lakadamyali M, Zimmer C. Single-molecule localization microscopy. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2021; 1:39. [PMID: 35663461 PMCID: PMC9160414 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-021-00038-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) describes a family of powerful imaging techniques that dramatically improve spatial resolution over standard, diffraction-limited microscopy techniques and can image biological structures at the molecular scale. In SMLM, individual fluorescent molecules are computationally localized from diffraction-limited image sequences and the localizations are used to generate a super-resolution image or a time course of super-resolution images, or to define molecular trajectories. In this Primer, we introduce the basic principles of SMLM techniques before describing the main experimental considerations when performing SMLM, including fluorescent labelling, sample preparation, hardware requirements and image acquisition in fixed and live cells. We then explain how low-resolution image sequences are computationally processed to reconstruct super-resolution images and/or extract quantitative information, and highlight a selection of biological discoveries enabled by SMLM and closely related methods. We discuss some of the main limitations and potential artefacts of SMLM, as well as ways to alleviate them. Finally, we present an outlook on advanced techniques and promising new developments in the fast-evolving field of SMLM. We hope that this Primer will be a useful reference for both newcomers and practitioners of SMLM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickaël Lelek
- Imaging and Modeling Unit, Department of Computational
Biology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 3691, Paris, France
| | - Melina T. Gyparaki
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gerti Beliu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics Biocenter,
University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Schueder
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig
Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried,
Germany
| | - Juliette Griffié
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Institute of
Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),
Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Suliana Manley
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Institute of
Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),
Lausanne, Switzerland
- ;
;
;
;
| | - Ralf Jungmann
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig
Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried,
Germany
- ;
;
;
;
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics Biocenter,
University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- ;
;
;
;
| | - Melike Lakadamyali
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- ;
;
;
;
| | - Christophe Zimmer
- Imaging and Modeling Unit, Department of Computational
Biology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR 3691, Paris, France
- ;
;
;
;
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38
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Bondar A, Lazar J. Optical sensors of heterotrimeric G protein signaling. FEBS J 2020; 288:2570-2584. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Bondar
- Center for Nanobiology and Structural Biology Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Nove Hrady Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Josef Lazar
- Center for Nanobiology and Structural Biology Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Nove Hrady Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic
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39
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Maynard S, Gelmi A, Skaalure SC, Pence IJ, Lee-Reeves C, Sero JE, Whittaker TE, Stevens MM. Nanoscale Molecular Quantification of Stem Cell-Hydrogel Interactions. ACS NANO 2020; 14:17321-17332. [PMID: 33215498 PMCID: PMC7760213 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
A common approach to tailoring synthetic hydrogels for regenerative medicine applications involves incorporating RGD cell adhesion peptides, yet assessing the cellular response to engineered microenvironments at the nanoscale remains challenging. To date, no study has demonstrated how RGD concentration in hydrogels affects the presentation of individual cell surface receptors. Here we studied the interaction between human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and RGD-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, by correlating macro- and nanoscale single-cell interfacial quantification techniques. We quantified RGD unbinding forces on a synthetic hydrogel using single cell atomic force spectroscopy, revealing that short-term binding of hMSCs was sensitive to RGD concentration. We also performed direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) to quantify the molecular interactions between integrin α5β1 and a biomaterial, unexpectedly revealing that increased integrin clustering at the hydrogel-cell interface correlated with fewer available RGD binding sites. Our complementary, quantitative approach uncovered mechanistic insights into specific stem cell-hydrogel interactions, where dSTORM provides nanoscale sensitivity to RGD-dependent differences in cell surface localization of integrin α5β1. Our findings reveal that it is possible to precisely determine how peptide-functionalized hydrogels interact with cells at the molecular scale, thus providing a basis to fine-tune the spatial presentation of bioactive ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stacey C. Skaalure
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Isaac J. Pence
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Lee-Reeves
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas E. Whittaker
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials,
Department of Bioengineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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40
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Calebiro D, Koszegi Z, Lanoiselée Y, Miljus T, O'Brien S. G protein-coupled receptor-G protein interactions: a single-molecule perspective. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:857-906. [PMID: 33331229 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00021.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate many cellular and physiological processes, responding to a diverse range of extracellular stimuli including hormones, neurotransmitters, odorants, and light. Decades of biochemical and pharmacological studies have provided fundamental insights into the mechanisms of GPCR signaling. Thanks to recent advances in structural biology, we now possess an atomistic understanding of receptor activation and G protein coupling. However, how GPCRs and G proteins interact in living cells to confer signaling efficiency and specificity remains insufficiently understood. The development of advanced optical methods, including single-molecule microscopy, has provided the means to study receptors and G proteins in living cells with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. The results of these studies reveal an unexpected level of complexity, whereby GPCRs undergo transient interactions among themselves as well as with G proteins and structural elements of the plasma membrane to form short-lived signaling nanodomains that likely confer both rapidity and specificity to GPCR signaling. These findings may provide new strategies to pharmaceutically modulate GPCR function, which might eventually pave the way to innovative drugs for common diseases such as diabetes or heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Calebiro
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zsombor Koszegi
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Yann Lanoiselée
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Tamara Miljus
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Shannon O'Brien
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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41
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Ellaithy A, Gonzalez-Maeso J, Logothetis DA, Levitz J. Structural and Biophysical Mechanisms of Class C G Protein-Coupled Receptor Function. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:1049-1064. [PMID: 32861513 PMCID: PMC7642020 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Groundbreaking structural and spectroscopic studies of class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as rhodopsin and the β2 adrenergic receptor, have provided a picture of how structural rearrangements between transmembrane helices control ligand binding, receptor activation, and effector coupling. However, the activation mechanism of other GPCR classes remains more elusive, in large part due to complexity in their domain assembly and quaternary structure. In this review, we focus on the class C GPCRs, which include metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptors (GABABRs) most prominently. We discuss the unique biophysical questions raised by the presence of large extracellular ligand-binding domains (LBDs) and constitutive homo/heterodimerization. Furthermore, we discuss how recent studies have begun to unravel how these fundamental class C GPCR features impact the processes of ligand binding, receptor activation, signal transduction, regulation by accessory proteins, and crosstalk with other GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Ellaithy
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Javier Gonzalez-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Diomedes A Logothetis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, College of Science and Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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42
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Bednarz K, Alshafie W, Aufmkolk S, Desserteaux T, Markam PS, Storch KF, Stroh T. Ultradian Secretion of Growth Hormone in Mice: Linking Physiology With Changes in Synapse Parameters Using Super-Resolution Microscopy. Front Neural Circuits 2020; 14:21. [PMID: 32523515 PMCID: PMC7261915 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2020.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine circuits are orchestrated by the pituitary gland in response to hypothalamic hormone-releasing and inhibiting factors to generate an ultradian and/or circadian rhythm of hormone secretion. However, mechanisms that govern this rhythmicity are not fully understood. It has been shown that synaptic transmission in the rodent hypothalamus undergoes cyclical changes in parallel with rhythmic hormone secretion and a growing body of evidence suggests that rapid rewiring of hypothalamic neurons may be the source of these changes. For decades, structural synaptic studies have been utilizing electron microscopy, which provides the resolution suitable for visualizing synapses. However, the small field of view, limited specificity and manual analysis susceptible to bias fuel the search for a more quantitative approach. Here, we apply the fluorescence super-resolution microscopy approach direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM) to quantify and structurally characterize excitatory and inhibitory synapses that contact growth hormone-releasing-hormone (GHRH) neurons during peak and trough values of growth hormone (GH) concentration in mice. This approach relies on a three-color immunofluorescence staining of GHRH and pre- and post-synaptic markers, and a quantitative analysis with a Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. With this method we confirm our previous findings, using electron microscopy, of increased excitatory synaptic input to GHRH neurons during peak levels of GH. Additionally, we find a shift in synapse numbers during low GH levels, where more inhibitory synaptic inputs are detected. Lastly, we utilize dSTORM to study novel aspects of synaptic structure. We show that more excitatory (but not inhibitory) pre-synaptic clusters associate with excitatory post-synaptic clusters during peaks of GH secretion and that the numbers of post-synaptic clusters increase during high hormone levels. The results presented here provide an opportunity to highlight dSTORM as a valuable quantitative approach to study synaptic structure in the neuroendocrine circuit. Importantly, our analysis of GH circuitry sheds light on the potential mechanism that drives ultradian changes in synaptic transmission and possibly aids in GH pulse generation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Bednarz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Walaa Alshafie
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Aufmkolk
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Théotime Desserteaux
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pratap Singh Markam
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kai-Florian Storch
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Thomas Stroh
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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