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Moser T, Karagulyan N, Neef J, Jaime Tobón LM. Diversity matters - extending sound intensity coding by inner hair cells via heterogeneous synapses. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114587. [PMID: 37800695 PMCID: PMC10690447 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our sense of hearing enables the processing of stimuli that differ in sound pressure by more than six orders of magnitude. How to process a wide range of stimulus intensities with temporal precision is an enigmatic phenomenon of the auditory system. Downstream of dynamic range compression by active cochlear micromechanics, the inner hair cells (IHCs) cover the full intensity range of sound input. Yet, the firing rate in each of their postsynaptic spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) encodes only a fraction of it. As a population, spiral ganglion neurons with their respective individual coding fractions cover the entire audible range. How such "dynamic range fractionation" arises is a topic of current research and the focus of this review. Here, we discuss mechanisms for generating the diverse functional properties of SGNs and formulate testable hypotheses. We postulate that an interplay of synaptic heterogeneity, molecularly distinct subtypes of SGNs, and efferent modulation serves the neural decomposition of sound information and thus contributes to a population code for sound intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells”GöttingenGermany
| | - Nare Karagulyan
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Hertha Sponer CollegeCluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells” Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Lina María Jaime Tobón
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Hertha Sponer CollegeCluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells” Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
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Karagulyan N, Moser T. Synaptic activity is not required for establishing heterogeneity of inner hair cell ribbon synapses. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1248941. [PMID: 37745283 PMCID: PMC10512025 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1248941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural sound encoding in the mammalian cochlea faces the challenge of representing audible sound pressures that vary over six orders of magnitude. The cochlea meets this demand through the use of active micromechanics as well as the diversity and adaptation of afferent neurons and their synapses. Mechanisms underlying neural diversity likely include heterogeneous presynaptic input from inner hair cells (IHCs) to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) as well as differences in the molecular profile of SGNs and in their efferent control. Here, we tested whether glutamate release from IHCs, previously found to be critical for maintaining different molecular SGN profiles, is required for establishing heterogeneity of active zones (AZs) in IHCs. We analyzed structural and functional heterogeneity of IHC AZs in mouse mutants with disrupted glutamate release from IHCs due to lack of a vesicular glutamate transporter (Vglut3) or impaired exocytosis due to defective otoferlin. We found the variance of the voltage-dependence of presynaptic Ca2+ influx to be reduced in exocytosis-deficient IHCs of otoferlin mutants. Yet, the spatial gradients of maximal amplitude and voltage-dependence of Ca2+ influx along the pillar-modiolar IHC axis were maintained in both mutants. Further immunohistochemical analysis showed an intact spatial gradient of ribbon size in Vglut3-/- mice. These results indicate that IHC exocytosis and glutamate release are not strictly required for establishing the heterogeneity of IHC AZs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nare Karagulyan
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Hertha Sponer College, Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Abrahamyan A, Eldstrom J, Sahakyan H, Karagulyan N, Mkrtchyan L, Karapetyan T, Sargsyan E, Kneussel M, Nazaryan K, Schwarz JR, Fedida D, Vardanyan V. Mechanism of external K+ sensitivity of KCNQ1 channels. J Gen Physiol 2023; 155:213880. [PMID: 36809486 PMCID: PMC9960071 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
KCNQ1 voltage-gated K+ channels are involved in a wide variety of fundamental physiological processes and exhibit the unique feature of being markedly inhibited by external K+. Despite the potential role of this regulatory mechanism in distinct physiological and pathological processes, its exact underpinnings are not well understood. In this study, using extensive mutagenesis, molecular dynamics simulations, and single-channel recordings, we delineate the molecular mechanism of KCNQ1 modulation by external K+. First, we demonstrate the involvement of the selectivity filter in the external K+ sensitivity of the channel. Then, we show that external K+ binds to the vacant outermost ion coordination site of the selectivity filter inducing a diminution in the unitary conductance of the channel. The larger reduction in the unitary conductance compared to whole-cell currents suggests an additional modulatory effect of external K+ on the channel. Further, we show that the external K+ sensitivity of the heteromeric KCNQ1/KCNE complexes depends on the type of associated KCNE subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astghik Abrahamyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Jodene Eldstrom
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Harutyun Sahakyan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Nare Karagulyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Liana Mkrtchyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Tatev Karapetyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Ernest Sargsyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Matthias Kneussel
- Institute for Molecular Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg , Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karen Nazaryan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Jürgen R Schwarz
- Institute for Molecular Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg , Hamburg, Germany
| | - David Fedida
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Vitya Vardanyan
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia , Yerevan, Armenia
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Cantu-Guerra HL, Papazian MR, Gorsky AL, Alekos NS, Caccavano A, Karagulyan N, Neef J, Vicini S, Moser T, Coate TM. Cochlear hair cell innervation is dependent on a modulatory function of Semaphorin-3A. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:124-144. [PMID: 36284453 PMCID: PMC9812910 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper connectivity between type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and inner hair cells (IHCs) in the cochlea is necessary for conveying sound information to the brain in mammals. Previous studies have shown that type I SGNs are heterogeneous in form, function and synaptic location on IHCs, but factors controlling their patterns of connectivity are not well understood. RESULTS During development, cochlear supporting cells and SGNs express Semaphorin-3A (SEMA3A), a known axon guidance factor. Mice homozygous for a point mutation that attenuates normal SEMA3A repulsive activity (Sema3aK108N ) show cochleae with grossly normal patterns of IHC innervation. However, genetic sparse labeling and three-dimensional reconstructions of individual SGNs show that cochleae from Sema3aK108N mice lacked the normal synaptic distribution of type I SGNs. Additionally, Sema3aK108N cochleae show a disrupted distribution of GLUA2 postsynaptic patches around the IHCs. The addition of SEMA3A-Fc to postnatal cochleae led to increases in SGN branching, similar to the effects of inhibiting glutamate receptors. Ca2+ imaging studies show that SEMA3A-Fc decreases SGN activity. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to the canonical view of SEMA3A as a guidance ligand, our results suggest SEMA3A may regulate SGN excitability in the cochlea, which may influence the morphology and synaptic arrangement of type I SGNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homero L. Cantu-Guerra
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown
University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Michael R. Papazian
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia, USA
| | - Anna L. Gorsky
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia, USA
| | - Nathalie S. Alekos
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia, USA
| | - Adam Caccavano
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown
University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University School of
Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Nare Karagulyan
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab,
University Medical Center, and Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology
Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, and Cluster of
Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of
Excitable Cells” (MBExC), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab,
University Medical Center, and Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology
Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, and Cluster of
Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of
Excitable Cells” (MBExC), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefano Vicini
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown
University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University School of
Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab,
University Medical Center, and Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology
Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, and Cluster of
Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of
Excitable Cells” (MBExC), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas M. Coate
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington,
District of Columbia, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown
University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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