1
|
Zha C, Gamache K, Hardt OM, Sossin WS. Behavioral characterization of Capn15 conditional knockout mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 454:114635. [PMID: 37598906 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Calpain 15 (CAPN15) is an intracellular cysteine protease belonging to the non-classical small optic lobe (SOL) family of calpains, which has an important role in development. Loss of Capn15 in mice leads to developmental eye anomalies and volumetric changes in the brain. Human individuals with biallelic variants in CAPN15 have developmental delay, neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as congenital malformations. In Aplysia, a reductionist model to study learning and memory, SOL calpain is important for non-associative long-term facilitation, the cellular analog of sensitization behavior. However, how CAPN15 is involved in adult behavior or learning and memory in vertebrates is unknown. Here, using Capn15 conditional knockout mice, we show that loss of the CAPN15 protein in excitatory forebrain neurons reduces self-grooming and marble burying, decreases performance in the accelerated roto-rod and reduces pre-tone freezing after strong fear conditioning. Thus, CAPN15 plays a role in regulating behavior in the adult mouse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Congyao Zha
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Karine Gamache
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Oliver M Hardt
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
The evolution of synaptic and cognitive capacity: Insights from the nervous system transcriptome of Aplysia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122301119. [PMID: 35867761 PMCID: PMC9282427 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122301119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastropod mollusk Aplysia is an important model for cellular and molecular neurobiological studies, particularly for investigations of molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. We developed an optimized assembly pipeline to generate an improved Aplysia nervous system transcriptome. This improved transcriptome enabled us to explore the evolution of cognitive capacity at the molecular level. Were there evolutionary expansions of neuronal genes between this relatively simple gastropod Aplysia (20,000 neurons) and Octopus (500 million neurons), the invertebrate with the most elaborate neuronal circuitry and greatest behavioral complexity? Are the tremendous advances in cognitive power in vertebrates explained by expansion of the synaptic proteome that resulted from multiple rounds of whole genome duplication in this clade? Overall, the complement of genes linked to neuronal function is similar between Octopus and Aplysia. As expected, a number of synaptic scaffold proteins have more isoforms in humans than in Aplysia or Octopus. However, several scaffold families present in mollusks and other protostomes are absent in vertebrates, including the Fifes, Lev10s, SOLs, and a NETO family. Thus, whereas vertebrates have more scaffold isoforms from select families, invertebrates have additional scaffold protein families not found in vertebrates. This analysis provides insights into the evolution of the synaptic proteome. Both synaptic proteins and synaptic plasticity evolved gradually, yet the last deuterostome-protostome common ancestor already possessed an elaborate suite of genes associated with synaptic function, and critical for synaptic plasticity.
Collapse
|
3
|
Zha C, Farah CA, Holt RJ, Ceroni F, Al-Abdi L, Thuriot F, Khan AO, Helaby R, Lévesque S, Alkuraya FS, Kraus A, Ragge NK, Sossin WS. Biallelic variants in the small optic lobe calpain CAPN15 are associated with congenital eye anomalies, deafness and other neurodevelopmental deficits. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:3054-3063. [PMID: 32885237 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphthalmia, coloboma and cataract are part of a spectrum of developmental eye disorders in humans affecting ~12 per 100 000 live births. Currently, variants in over 100 genes are known to underlie these conditions. However, at least 40% of affected individuals remain without a clinical genetic diagnosis, suggesting variants in additional genes may be responsible. Calpain 15 (CAPN15) is an intracellular cysteine protease belonging to the non-classical small optic lobe (SOL) family of calpains, an important class of developmental proteins, as yet uncharacterized in vertebrates. We identified five individuals with microphthalmia and/or coloboma from four independent families carrying homozygous or compound heterozygous predicted damaging variants in CAPN15. Several individuals had additional phenotypes including growth deficits, developmental delay and hearing loss. We generated Capn15 knockout mice that exhibited similar severe developmental eye defects, including anophthalmia, microphthalmia and cataract, and diminished growth. We demonstrate widespread Capn15 expression throughout the brain and central nervous system, strongest during early development, and decreasing postnatally. Together, these findings demonstrate a critical role of CAPN15 in vertebrate developmental eye disorders, and may signify a new developmental pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Congyao Zha
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Carole A Farah
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Richard J Holt
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Fabiola Ceroni
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Lama Al-Abdi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fanny Thuriot
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Arif O Khan
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.,Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA
| | - Rana Helaby
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sébastien Lévesque
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alison Kraus
- Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
| | - Nicola K Ragge
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.,Department of Clinical Genetics, West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Service and Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham Women's and Children's Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK
| | - Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
MRI of Capn15 Knockout Mice and Analysis of Capn 15 Distribution Reveal Possible Roles in Brain Development and Plasticity. Neuroscience 2021; 465:128-141. [PMID: 33951504 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Small Optic Lobe (SOL) family of calpains are intracellular cysteine proteases that are expressed in the nervous system and play an important role in neuronal development in both Drosophila, where loss of this calpain leads to the eponymous small optic lobes, and in mouse and human, where loss of this calpain leads to eye anomalies. Some human individuals with biallelic variants in CAPN15 also have developmental delay and autism. However, neither the specific effect of the loss of the Capn15 protein on brain development nor the brain regions where this calpain is expressed in the adult is known. Here we show using small animal MRI that mice with the complete loss of Capn15 have smaller brains overall with larger decreases in the thalamus and subregions of the hippocampus. These losses are not seen in Capn15 conditional knockout (KO) mice where Capn15 is knocked out only in excitatory neurons in the adult. Based on β-galactosidase expression in an insert strain where lacZ is expressed under the control of the Capn15 promoter, we show that Capn15 is expressed in adult mice, particularly in neurons involved in plasticity such as the hippocampus, lateral amygdala and Purkinje neurons, and partially in other non-characterized cell types. The regions of the brain in the adult where Capn15 is expressed do not correspond well to the regions of the brain most affected by the complete knockout suggesting distinct roles of Capn15 in brain development and adult brain function.
Collapse
|
5
|
Calpain suppresses cell growth and invasion of glioblastoma multiforme by producing the cleavage of filamin A. Int J Clin Oncol 2020; 25:1055-1066. [PMID: 32103382 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-020-01636-7] [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: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Filamin A is the most widely expressed isoform of filamin in mammalian tissues. It can be hydrolyzed by Calpain, producing a 90-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment (ABP90). Calpeptin is a chemical inhibitor of Calpain, which can inhibit this effect. It has been shown that ABP90 acts as a transcription factor which is involved in mediating cell signaling. However, the significance of ABP90 and its clinical signature with underlying mechanisms have not been well studied in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). METHODS ABP90 protein was measured in 36 glioma patients by Western blot. Human GBM cell lines U87 and A172 were used to clarify the precise role of ABP90. CCK-8 assay was used to analyze the cell viability. Transwell invasion assay and wound healing assay were used to analyze the migration and invasion. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2/tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2/TIMP2) protein was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS ABP90 protein expression was lower in GBM tissues. The patients with low ABP90 protein expression had a shorter OS time (p = 0.046). After being treated with Calpain, the expression of ABP90 was upregulated, which led to a decline of cell viability, enhanced the efficacy of temozolomide and restrained the cell invasion. Calpeptin could inhibit the effect. The mechanism might be involved in the balance of MMP2/TIMP2. CONCLUSIONS Our present data suggest that ABP90 expression is a significant prognostic factor and may play an important role in cell viability, chemotherapeutic sensitivity and invasion of GBM.
Collapse
|
6
|
Farah CA, Dunn TW, Hastings MH, Ferguson L, Gao C, Gong K, Sossin WS. A role for Numb in Protein kinase M (PKM)-mediated increase in surface AMPA receptors during facilitation in Aplysia. J Neurochem 2019; 150:366-384. [PMID: 31254393 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is considerable evidence from both vertebrates and invertebrates that persistently active protein kinases maintain changes in synaptic strength that underlie memory. In the hermaphrodite marine mollusk, Aplysia californica, truncated forms of protein kinase C (PKC) termed protein kinase Ms have been implicated in both intermediate- and long-term facilitation, an increase in synaptic strength between sensory neurons and motor neurons thought to underlie behavioural sensitization in the animal. However, few substrates have been identified as candidates that could mediate this increase in synaptic strength. PKMs have been proposed to maintain synaptic strength through preventing endocytosis of AMPA receptors. Numb is a conserved regulator of endocytosis that is modulated by phosphorylation. We have identified and cloned Aplysia Numb (ApNumb). ApNumb contains three conserved PKC phosphorylation sites and PKMs generated from classical and atypical Aplysia PKCs can phosphorylate ApNumb in vitro and in cells. Over-expression of ApNumb that lacks the conserved PKC phosphorylation sites blocks increases in surface levels of a pHluorin-tagged Aplysia glutamate receptor measured using live imaging after intermediate- or long-term facilitation. Over-expression of this form of ApNumb did not block increases in synaptic strength seen during intermediate-term facilitation, but did block increases in synaptic strength seen during long-term facilitation. There was no effect of over-expression of this form of ApNumb on other putative Numb targets as measured using increases in calcium downstream of neurotrophins or agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors. These results suggest that in Aplysia neurons, Numb specifically regulates AMPA receptor trafficking and is an attractive candidate for a target of PKMs in long-term maintenance of synaptic strength. OPEN SCIENCE BADGES: This article has received a badge for *Open Materials* because it provided all relevant information to reproduce the study in the manuscript. The complete Open Science Disclosure form for this article can be found at the end of the article. More information about the Open Practices badges can be found at https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/. Open Science: This manuscript was awarded with the Open Materials Badge For more information see: https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carole A Farah
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tyler W Dunn
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Margaret H Hastings
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Larissa Ferguson
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cherry Gao
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Katrina Gong
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hastings MH, Qiu A, Zha C, Farah CA, Mahdid Y, Ferguson L, Sossin WS. The zinc fingers of the small optic lobes calpain bind polyubiquitin. J Neurochem 2018; 146:429-445. [PMID: 29808476 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The small optic lobes (SOL) calpain is a highly conserved member of the calpain family expressed in the nervous system. A dominant negative form of the SOL calpain inhibited consolidation of one form of synaptic plasticity, non-associative facilitation, in sensory-motor neuronal cultures in Aplysia, presumably by inhibiting cleavage of protein kinase Cs (PKCs) into constitutively active protein kinase Ms (PKMs) (Hu et al. 2017a). SOL calpains have a conserved set of 5-6 N-terminal zinc fingers. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that these zinc fingers could bind to ubiquitin. In this study, we show that both the Aplysia and mouse SOL calpain (also known as Calpain 15) zinc fingers bind ubiquitinated proteins, and we confirm that Aplysia SOL binds poly- but not mono- or diubiquitin. No specific zinc finger is required for polyubiquitin binding. Neither polyubiquitin nor calcium was sufficient to induce purified Aplysia SOL calpain to autolyse or to cleave the atypical PKC to PKM in vitro. In Aplysia, over-expression of the atypical PKC in sensory neurons leads to an activity-dependent cleavage event and an increase in nuclear ubiquitin staining. Activity-dependent cleavage is partially blocked by a dominant negative SOL calpain, but not by a dominant negative classical calpain. The cleaved PKM was stabilized by the dominant negative classical calpain and destabilized by a dominant negative form of the PKM stabilizing protein KIdney/BRAin protein. These studies provide new insight into SOL calpain's function and regulation. Open Data: Materials are available on https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/ https://osf.io/93n6m/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret H Hastings
- Department of Psychology, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alvin Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Congyao Zha
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Carole A Farah
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yacine Mahdid
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Larissa Ferguson
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Psychology, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sossin WS. Memory Synapses Are Defined by Distinct Molecular Complexes: A Proposal. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2018; 10:5. [PMID: 29695960 PMCID: PMC5904272 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are diverse in form and function. While there are strong evidential and theoretical reasons for believing that memories are stored at synapses, the concept of a specialized “memory synapse” is rarely discussed. Here, we review the evidence that memories are stored at the synapse and consider the opposing possibilities. We argue that if memories are stored in an active fashion at synapses, then these memory synapses must have distinct molecular complexes that distinguish them from other synapses. In particular, examples from Aplysia sensory-motor neuron synapses and synapses on defined engram neurons in rodent models are discussed. Specific hypotheses for molecular complexes that define memory synapses are presented, including persistently active kinases, transmitter receptor complexes and trans-synaptic adhesion proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wayne S Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|