1
|
Leahy SN, Vita DJ, Broadie K. PTPN11/Corkscrew Activates Local Presynaptic Mapk Signaling to Regulate Synapsin, Synaptic Vesicle Pools, and Neurotransmission Strength, with a Dual Requirement in Neurons and Glia. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1077232024. [PMID: 38471782 PMCID: PMC11044113 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1077-23.2024] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 11 (PTPN11) and Drosophila homolog Corkscrew (Csw) regulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway via a conserved autoinhibitory mechanism. Disease-causing loss-of-function (LoF) and gain-of-function (GoF) mutations both disrupt this autoinhibition to potentiate MAPK signaling. At the Drosophila neuromuscular junction glutamatergic synapse, LoF/GoF mutations elevate transmission strength and reduce activity-dependent synaptic depression. In both sexes of LoF/GoF mutations, the synaptic vesicles (SV)-colocalized synapsin phosphoprotein tether is highly elevated at rest, but quickly reduced with stimulation, suggesting a larger SV reserve pool with greatly heightened activity-dependent recruitment. Transmission electron microscopy of mutants reveals an elevated number of SVs clustered at the presynaptic active zones, suggesting that the increased vesicle availability is causative for the elevated neurotransmission. Direct neuron-targeted extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) GoF phenocopies both increased local presynaptic MAPK/ERK signaling and synaptic transmission strength in mutants, confirming the presynaptic regulatory mechanism. Synapsin loss blocks this elevation in both presynaptic PTPN11 and ERK mutants. However, csw null mutants cannot be rescued by wild-type Csw in neurons: neurotransmission is only rescued by expressing Csw in both neurons and glia simultaneously. Nevertheless, targeted LoF/GoF mutations in either neurons or glia alone recapitulate the elevated neurotransmission. Thus, PTPN11/Csw mutations in either cell type are sufficient to upregulate presynaptic function, but a dual requirement in neurons and glia is necessary for neurotransmission. Taken together, we conclude that PTPN11/Csw acts in both neurons and glia, with LoF and GoF similarly upregulating MAPK/ERK signaling to enhance presynaptic Synapsin-mediated SV trafficking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon N Leahy
- Departments of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
| | - Dominic J Vita
- Departments of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
| | - Kendal Broadie
- Departments of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
- Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
von Saucken VE, Windner SE, Baylies MK. Postsynaptic BMP signaling regulates myonuclear properties in Drosophila larval muscles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588944. [PMID: 38645063 PMCID: PMC11030338 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The syncytial mammalian muscle fiber contains a heterogeneous population of (myo)nuclei. At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), myonuclei have specialized positioning and gene expression. However, it remains unclear how myonuclei are recruited and what regulates myonuclear output at the NMJ. Here, we identify specific properties of myonuclei located near the Drosophila larval NMJ. These synaptic myonuclei have increased size in relation to their surrounding cytoplasmic domain (scaling), increased DNA content (ploidy), and increased levels of transcription factor pMad, a readout for BMP signaling activity. Our genetic manipulations show local BMP signaling affects muscle size, nuclear size, ploidy, and NMJ size and function. In support, RNA sequencing analysis reveals that pMad regulates genes involved in muscle growth, ploidy (i.e., E2f1), and neurotransmission. Our data suggest that muscle BMP signaling instructs synaptic myonuclear output that then positively shapes the NMJ synapse. This study deepens our understanding of how myonuclear heterogeneity supports local signaling demands to fine tune cellular function and NMJ activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E. von Saucken
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065 USA
- Weill Cornell-Rockefeller-Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10065 USA
- Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Stefanie E. Windner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Mary K. Baylies
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065 USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dominicci-Cotto C, Vazquez M, Marie B. The Wingless planar cell polarity pathway is essential for optimal activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2024; 16:1322771. [PMID: 38633293 PMCID: PMC11021733 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2024.1322771] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
From fly to man, the Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signaling molecule is essential for both the stability and plasticity of the nervous system. The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has proven to be a useful system for deciphering the role of Wg in directing activity-dependent synaptic plasticity (ADSP), which, in the motoneuron, has been shown to be dependent on both the canonical and the noncanonical calcium Wg pathways. Here we show that the noncanonical planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is an essential component of the Wg signaling system controlling plasticity at the motoneuron synapse. We present evidence that disturbing the PCP pathway leads to a perturbation in ADSP. We first show that a PCP-specific allele of disheveled (dsh) affects the de novo synaptic structures produced during ADSP. We then show that the Rho GTPases downstream of Dsh in the PCP pathway are also involved in regulating the morphological changes that take place after repeated stimulation. Finally, we show that Jun kinase is essential for this phenomenon, whereas we found no indication of the involvement of the transcription factor complex AP1 (Jun/Fos). This work shows the involvement of the neuronal PCP signaling pathway in supporting ADSP. Because we find that AP1 mutants can perform ADSP adequately, we hypothesize that, upon Wg activation, the Rho GTPases and Jun kinase are involved locally at the synapse, in instructing cytoskeletal dynamics responsible for the appearance of the morphological changes occurring during ADSP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carihann Dominicci-Cotto
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
- Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Mariam Vazquez
- Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Bruno Marie
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
- Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shaheen A, Richter Gorey CL, Sghaier A, Dason JS. Cholesterol is required for activity-dependent synaptic growth. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261563. [PMID: 37902091 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261563] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in cholesterol content of neuronal membranes occur during development and brain aging. Little is known about whether synaptic activity regulates cholesterol levels in neuronal membranes and whether these changes affect neuronal development and function. We generated transgenic flies that express the cholesterol-binding D4H domain of perfringolysin O toxin and found increased levels of cholesterol in presynaptic terminals of Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions following increased synaptic activity. Reduced cholesterol impaired synaptic growth and largely prevented activity-dependent synaptic growth. Presynaptic knockdown of adenylyl cyclase phenocopied the impaired synaptic growth caused by reducing cholesterol. Furthermore, the effects of knocking down adenylyl cyclase and reducing cholesterol were not additive, suggesting that they function in the same pathway. Increasing cAMP levels using a dunce mutant with reduced phosphodiesterase activity failed to rescue this impaired synaptic growth, suggesting that cholesterol functions downstream of cAMP. We used a protein kinase A (PKA) sensor to show that reducing cholesterol levels reduced presynaptic PKA activity. Collectively, our results demonstrate that enhanced synaptic activity increased cholesterol levels in presynaptic terminals and that these changes likely activate the cAMP-PKA pathway during activity-dependent growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amber Shaheen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Claire L Richter Gorey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Adam Sghaier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Dason
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ermanoska B, Rodal AA. Non-muscle myosin II regulates presynaptic actin assemblies and neuronal mechanobiology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566609. [PMID: 38014140 PMCID: PMC10680633 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are evolutionarily ancient, specialized contacts between neurons and muscles. Axons and NMJs must endure mechanical strain through a lifetime of muscle contraction, making them vulnerable to aging and neurodegenerative conditions. However, cellular strategies for mitigating this mechanical stress remain unknown. In this study, we used Drosophila larval NMJs to investigate the role of actin and myosin (actomyosin)-mediated contractility in generating and responding to cellular forces at the neuron-muscle interface. We identified a new long-lived, low-turnover presynaptic actin core traversing the NMJ, which partly co-localizes with non-muscle myosin II (NMII). Neuronal RNAi of NMII induced disorganization of this core, suggesting that this structure might have contractile properties. Interestingly, neuronal RNAi of NMII also decreased NMII levels in the postsynaptic muscle proximal to neurons, suggesting that neuronal actomyosin rearrangements propagate their effects trans-synaptically. We also observed reduced Integrin levels upon NMII knockdown, indicating that neuronal actomyosin disruption triggers rearrangements of Integrin-mediated connections between neurons and surrounding muscle tissue. In summary, our study identifies a previously uncharacterized presynaptic actomyosin subpopulation that upholds the neuronal mechanical continuum, transmits signals to adjacent muscle tissue, and collaborates with Integrin receptors to govern the mechanobiology of the neuromuscular junction.
Collapse
|
6
|
Fernandes AR, Martins JP, Gomes ER, Mendes CS, Teodoro RO. Drosophila motor neuron boutons remodel through membrane blebbing coupled with muscle contraction. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3352. [PMID: 37291089 PMCID: PMC10250368 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38421-9] [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: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Wired neurons form new presynaptic boutons in response to increased synaptic activity, however the mechanism(s) by which this occurs remains uncertain. Drosophila motor neurons (MNs) have clearly discernible boutons that display robust structural plasticity, being therefore an ideal system in which to study activity-dependent bouton genesis. Here, we show that in response to depolarization and in resting conditions, MNs form new boutons by membrane blebbing, a pressure-driven mechanism that occurs in 3-D cell migration, but to our knowledge not previously described to occur in neurons. Accordingly, F-actin is decreased in boutons during outgrowth, and non-muscle myosin-II is dynamically recruited to newly formed boutons. Furthermore, muscle contraction plays a mechanical role, which we hypothesize promotes bouton addition by increasing MN confinement. Overall, we identified a mechanism by which established circuits form new boutons allowing their structural expansion and plasticity, using trans-synaptic physical forces as the main driving force.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia R Fernandes
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João P Martins
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Edgar R Gomes
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - César S Mendes
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita O Teodoro
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Restrepo LJ, DePew AT, Moese ER, Tymanskyj SR, Parisi MJ, Aimino MA, Duhart JC, Fei H, Mosca TJ. γ-secretase promotes Drosophila postsynaptic development through the cleavage of a Wnt receptor. Dev Cell 2022; 57:1643-1660.e7. [PMID: 35654038 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Developing synapses mature through the recruitment of specific proteins that stabilize presynaptic and postsynaptic structure and function. Wnt ligands signaling via Frizzled (Fz) receptors play many crucial roles in neuronal and synaptic development, but whether and how Wnt and Fz influence synaptic maturation is incompletely understood. Here, we show that Fz2 receptor cleavage via the γ-secretase complex is required for postsynaptic development and maturation. In the absence of γ-secretase, Drosophila neuromuscular synapses fail to recruit postsynaptic scaffolding and cytoskeletal proteins, leading to behavioral deficits. Introducing presenilin mutations linked to familial early-onset Alzheimer's disease into flies leads to synaptic maturation phenotypes that are identical to those seen in null alleles. This conserved role for γ-secretase in synaptic maturation and postsynaptic development highlights the importance of Fz2 cleavage and suggests that receptor processing by proteins linked to neurodegeneration may be a shared mechanism with aspects of synaptic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J Restrepo
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Alison T DePew
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Moese
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Stephen R Tymanskyj
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Michael J Parisi
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Michael A Aimino
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Duhart
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Hong Fei
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Timothy J Mosca
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Bluemle Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Maldonado-Díaz C, Vazquez M, Marie B. A comparison of three different methods of eliciting rapid activity-dependent synaptic plasticity at the Drosophila NMJ. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260553. [PMID: 34847197 PMCID: PMC8631638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila NMJ is a system of choice for investigating the mechanisms underlying the structural and functional modifications evoked during activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Because fly genetics allows considerable versatility, many strategies can be employed to elicit this activity. Here, we compare three different stimulation methods for eliciting activity-dependent changes in structure and function at the Drosophila NMJ. We find that the method using patterned stimulations driven by a K+-rich solution creates robust structural modifications but reduces muscle viability, as assessed by resting potential and membrane resistance. We argue that, using this method, electrophysiological studies that consider the frequency of events, rather than their amplitude, are the only reliable studies. We contrast these results with the expression of CsChrimson channels and red-light stimulation at the NMJ, as well as with the expression of TRPA channels and temperature stimulation. With both these methods we observed reliable modifications of synaptic structures and consistent changes in electrophysiological properties. Indeed, we observed a rapid appearance of immature boutons that lack postsynaptic differentiation, and a potentiation of spontaneous neurotransmission frequency. Surprisingly, a patterned application of temperature changes alone is sufficient to provoke both structural and functional plasticity. In this context, temperature-dependent TRPA channel activation induces additional structural plasticity but no further increase in the frequency of spontaneous neurotransmission, suggesting an uncoupling of these mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Maldonado-Díaz
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Mariam Vazquez
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Bruno Marie
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| |
Collapse
|