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Nathanson AJ, Zhang Y, Smalley JL, Ollerhead TA, Rodriguez Santos MA, Andrews PM, Wobst HJ, Moore YE, Brandon NJ, Hines RM, Davies PA, Moss SJ. Identification of a Core Amino Acid Motif within the α Subunit of GABA ARs that Promotes Inhibitory Synaptogenesis and Resilience to Seizures. Cell Rep 2020; 28:670-681.e8. [PMID: 31315046 PMCID: PMC8283774 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY The fidelity of inhibitory neurotransmission is dependent on the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) at the appropriate synaptic sites. Synaptic GABAARs are constructed from α(1–3), β(1–3), and γ2 subunits, and neurons can target these subtypes to specific synapses. Here, we identify a 15-amino acid inhibitory synapse targeting motif (ISTM) within the α2 subunit that promotes the association between GABAARs and the inhibitory scaffold proteins collybistin and gephyrin. Using mice in which the ISTM has been introduced into the α1 subunit (Gabra1–2 mice), we show that the ISTM is critical for axo-axonic synapse formation, the efficacy of GABAergic neurotransmission, and seizure sensitivity. The Gabra1–2 mutation rescues seizure-induced lethality in Gabra2–1 mice, which lack axo-axonic synapses due to the deletion of the ISTM from the α2 subunit. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the ISTM plays a critical role in promoting inhibitory synapse formation, both in the axonic and somatodendritic compartments. In Brief Molecular mechanisms regulating specific synaptic GABAAR accumulation are critical for the fidelity of inhibitory neurotransmission. Nathanson et al. show that strengthening the interaction between α1-GABAARs and collybistin via genetic manipulation results in augmented synaptic targeting of these receptors, enhanced inhibitory neurotransmission, and seizure resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Nathanson
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Yihui Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Joshua L Smalley
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Thomas A Ollerhead
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | | | - Peter M Andrews
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Heike J Wobst
- AstraZeneca Neuroscience, IMED Biotech Unit, R&D, Boston, MA 02451, USA
| | - Yvonne E Moore
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- AstraZeneca Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Boston, MA 02111, USA; AstraZeneca Neuroscience, IMED Biotech Unit, R&D, Boston, MA 02451, USA
| | - Rochelle M Hines
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Paul A Davies
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Stephen J Moss
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; AstraZeneca Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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Wu XL, Ma DM, Zhang W, Zhou JS, Huo YW, Lu M, Tang FR. Cx36 in the mouse hippocampus during and after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Epilepsy Res 2018; 141:64-72. [PMID: 29476948 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gap junctions play an important role in the synchronization activity of coupled cells. Hippocampal inhibitory interneurons are involved in epileptogenesis and seizure activity, and express gap junction protein connexin (Cx) 36. Cx36 is also localized in the axons (mossy fibers) of granule cells in the dentate gyrus. While it has been documented that Cx36 is involved in epileptogenesis, there are still controversies regarding the expression levels of Cx36 at different developmental stages of human and animal models of epileptogenesis. In this study, the expression of Cx36 was investigated in the mouse hippocampus at 1 h, 4 h during pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (PISE) and 1 week, 2 months after PISE. We found that Cx36 was down-regulated in neurons at different time points during and after PISE, whereas it was increased significantly in the stratum lucidum of CA3 area at 2 months after PISE. Double immunofluorescence indicated that Cx36 was localized in parvalbumin (PV) immunopositive interneuron in CA1 area and in mossy fibers and their terminals in the stratum lucidum of CA3 area. It suggests that decreased expression of Cx36 in interneurons may be related to less effective inhibitory control of excitatory activity of hippocampal principal neurons. However, the increased Cx36 immunopositive product in mossy fibers at the chronic stage after PISE may enhance the contacts between granule cells in the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons in CA3 area. The two different changes of Cx36 may be implicated in the epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- X L Wu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - D M Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Ninth Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China
| | - W Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - J S Zhou
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Y W Huo
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - M Lu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - F R Tang
- Radiation Physiology Laboratory, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI), National University of Singapore, 1 CREATE Way #04-01, CREATE Tower 138602, Singapore.
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