1
|
Dharmasri PA, Levy AD, Blanpied TA. Differential nanoscale organization of excitatory synapses onto excitatory vs. inhibitory neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315379121. [PMID: 38625946 PMCID: PMC11047112 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315379121] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
A key feature of excitatory synapses is the existence of subsynaptic protein nanoclusters (NCs) whose precise alignment across the cleft in a transsynaptic nanocolumn influences the strength of synaptic transmission. However, whether nanocolumn properties vary between excitatory synapses functioning in different cellular contexts is unknown. We used a combination of confocal and DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy to directly compare the organization of shared scaffold proteins at two important excitatory synapses-those forming onto excitatory principal neurons (Ex→Ex synapses) and those forming onto parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (Ex→PV synapses). As in Ex→Ex synapses, we find that in Ex→PV synapses, presynaptic Munc13-1 and postsynaptic PSD-95 both form NCs that demonstrate alignment, underscoring synaptic nanostructure and the transsynaptic nanocolumn as conserved organizational principles of excitatory synapses. Despite the general conservation of these features, we observed specific differences in the characteristics of pre- and postsynaptic Ex→PV nanostructure. Ex→PV synapses contained larger PSDs with fewer PSD-95 NCs when accounting for size than Ex→Ex synapses. Furthermore, the PSD-95 NCs were larger and denser. The identity of the postsynaptic cell was also represented in Munc13-1 organization, as Ex→PV synapses hosted larger Munc13-1 puncta that contained less dense but larger and more numerous Munc13-1 NCs. Moreover, we measured the spatial variability of transsynaptic alignment in these synapse types, revealing protein alignment in Ex→PV synapses over a distinct range of distances compared to Ex→Ex synapses. We conclude that while general principles of nanostructure and alignment are shared, cell-specific elements of nanodomain organization likely contribute to functional diversity of excitatory synapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Poorna A. Dharmasri
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
- University of Maryland-Medicine Institute of Neuroscience Discovery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
| | - Aaron D. Levy
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
- University of Maryland-Medicine Institute of Neuroscience Discovery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
| | - Thomas A. Blanpied
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
- University of Maryland-Medicine Institute of Neuroscience Discovery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21201
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stefani I, Iwaszkiewicz J, Fasshauer D. Exploring the conformational changes of the Munc18-1/syntaxin 1a complex. Protein Sci 2023; 33:e4870. [PMID: 38109275 PMCID: PMC10895456 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4870] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles, the membrane of which fuses with the plasma membrane upon calcium influx. This membrane fusion reaction is driven by the formation of a tight complex comprising the plasma membrane N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins syntaxin-1a and SNAP-25 with the vesicle SNARE protein synaptobrevin. The neuronal protein Munc18-1 forms a stable complex with syntaxin-1a. Biochemically, syntaxin-1a cannot escape the tight grip of Munc18-1, so formation of the SNARE complex is inhibited. However, Munc18-1 is essential for the release of neurotransmitters in vivo. It has therefore been assumed that Munc18-1 makes the bound syntaxin-1a available for SNARE complex formation. Exactly how this occurs is still unclear, but it is assumed that structural rearrangements occur. Here, we used a series of mutations to specifically weaken the complex at different positions in order to induce these rearrangements biochemically. Our approach was guided through sequence and structural analysis and supported by molecular dynamics simulations. Subsequently, we created a homology model showing the complex in an altered conformation. This conformation presumably represents a more open arrangement of syntaxin-1a that permits the formation of a SNARE complex to be initiated while still bound to Munc18-1. In the future, research should investigate how this central reaction for neuronal communication is controlled by other proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Stefani
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | | | - Dirk Fasshauer
- Department of Computational BiologyUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cingolani LA, Thalhammer A, Jaudon F, Muià J, Baj G. Nanoscale organization of Ca V2.1 splice isoforms at presynaptic terminals: implications for synaptic vesicle release and synaptic facilitation. Biol Chem 2023; 404:931-937. [PMID: 37658578 PMCID: PMC10695435 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0235] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The distance between CaV2.1 voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and the Ca2+ sensor responsible for vesicle release at presynaptic terminals is critical for determining synaptic strength. Yet, the molecular mechanisms responsible for a loose coupling configuration of CaV2.1 in certain synapses or developmental periods and a tight one in others remain unknown. Here, we examine the nanoscale organization of two CaV2.1 splice isoforms (CaV2.1[EFa] and CaV2.1[EFb]) at presynaptic terminals by superresolution structured illumination microscopy. We find that CaV2.1[EFa] is more tightly co-localized with presynaptic markers than CaV2.1[EFb], suggesting that alternative splicing plays a crucial role in the synaptic organization of CaV2.1 channels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo A. Cingolani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 5, I-34127Trieste, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, I-16132Genoa, Italy
| | - Agnes Thalhammer
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 5, I-34127Trieste, Italy
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Avanzata (CIMA), University of Trieste, via Fleming 31, I-34127Trieste, Italy
| | - Fanny Jaudon
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 5, I-34127Trieste, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, I-16132Genoa, Italy
| | - Jessica Muià
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 5, I-34127Trieste, Italy
| | - Gabriele Baj
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 5, I-34127Trieste, Italy
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Avanzata (CIMA), University of Trieste, via Fleming 31, I-34127Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rothman JE, Grushin K, Bera M, Pincet F. Turbocharging synaptic transmission. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2233-2249. [PMID: 37643878 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14718] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from biochemistry, genetics, and electron microscopy strongly supports the idea that a ring of Synaptotagmin is central to the clamping and release of synaptic vesicles (SVs) for synchronous neurotransmission. Recent direct measurements in cell-free systems suggest there are 12 SNAREpins in each ready-release vesicle, consisting of six peripheral and six central SNAREpins. The six central SNAREpins are directly bound to the Synaptotagmin ring, are directly released by Ca++ , and they initially open the fusion pore. The six peripheral SNAREpins are indirectly bound to the ring, each linked to a central SNAREpin by a bridging molecule of Complexin. We suggest that the primary role of peripheral SNAREpins is to provide additional force to 'turbocharge' neurotransmitter release, explaining how it can occur much faster than other forms of membrane fusion. The SV protein Synaptophysin forms hexamers that bear two copies of the v-SNARE VAMP at each vertex, one likely assembling into a peripheral SNAREpin and the other into a central SNAREpin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E Rothman
- Nanobiology Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kirill Grushin
- Nanobiology Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manindra Bera
- Nanobiology Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Frederic Pincet
- Nanobiology Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kalyana Sundaram RV, Chatterjee A, Bera M, Grushin K, Panda A, Li F, Coleman J, Lee S, Ramakrishnan S, Ernst AM, Gupta K, Rothman JE, Krishnakumar SS. Roles for diacylglycerol in synaptic vesicle priming and release revealed by complete reconstitution of core protein machinery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309516120. [PMID: 37590407 PMCID: PMC10450444 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309516120] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we introduce the full functional reconstitution of genetically validated core protein machinery (SNAREs, Munc13, Munc18, Synaptotagmin, and Complexin) for synaptic vesicle priming and release in a geometry that enables detailed characterization of the fate of docked vesicles both before and after release is triggered with Ca2+. Using this setup, we identify new roles for diacylglycerol (DAG) in regulating vesicle priming and Ca2+-triggered release involving the SNARE assembly chaperone Munc13. We find that low concentrations of DAG profoundly accelerate the rate of Ca2+-dependent release, and high concentrations reduce clamping and permit extensive spontaneous release. As expected, DAG also increases the number of docked, release-ready vesicles. Dynamic single-molecule imaging of Complexin binding to release-ready vesicles directly establishes that DAG accelerates the rate of SNAREpin assembly mediated by chaperones, Munc13 and Munc18. The selective effects of physiologically validated mutations confirmed that the Munc18-Syntaxin-VAMP2 "template" complex is a functional intermediate in the production of primed, release-ready vesicles, which requires the coordinated action of Munc13 and Munc18.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R. Venkat Kalyana Sundaram
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Atrouli Chatterjee
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Manindra Bera
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Kirill Grushin
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Aniruddha Panda
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Feng Li
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Jeff Coleman
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Seong Lee
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Sathish Ramakrishnan
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Andreas M. Ernst
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA92093
| | - Kallol Gupta
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - James E. Rothman
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| | - Shyam S. Krishnakumar
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mueller BD, Merrill SA, Watanabe S, Liu P, Niu L, Singh A, Maldonado-Catala P, Cherry A, Rich MS, Silva M, Maricq AV, Wang ZW, Jorgensen EM. CaV1 and CaV2 calcium channels mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles. eLife 2023; 12:e81407. [PMID: 36820519 PMCID: PMC10023163 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81407] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of voltage-gated calcium channels at presynaptic terminals leads to local increases in calcium and the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter. Presynaptic output is a function of the density of calcium channels, the dynamic properties of the channel, the distance to docked vesicles, and the release probability at the docking site. We demonstrate that at Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junctions two different classes of voltage-gated calcium channels, CaV2 and CaV1, mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles. CaV2 channels are concentrated in densely packed clusters ~250 nm in diameter with the active zone proteins Neurexin, α-Liprin, SYDE, ELKS/CAST, RIM-BP, α-Catulin, and MAGI1. CaV2 channels are colocalized with the priming protein UNC-13L and mediate the fusion of vesicles docked within 33 nm of the dense projection. CaV2 activity is amplified by ryanodine receptor release of calcium from internal stores, triggering fusion up to 165 nm from the dense projection. By contrast, CaV1 channels are dispersed in the synaptic varicosity, and are colocalized with UNC-13S. CaV1 and ryanodine receptors are separated by just 40 nm, and vesicle fusion mediated by CaV1 is completely dependent on the ryanodine receptor. Distinct synaptic vesicle pools, released by different calcium channels, could be used to tune the speed, voltage-dependence, and quantal content of neurotransmitter release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Mueller
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Sean A Merrill
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Shigeki Watanabe
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Longgang Niu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Anish Singh
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | - Alex Cherry
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Matthew S Rich
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Malan Silva
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | - Zhao-Wen Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are stored in small membrane-bound vesicles at synapses; a subset of synaptic vesicles is docked at release sites. Fusion of docked vesicles with the plasma membrane releases neurotransmitters. Membrane fusion at synapses, as well as all trafficking steps of the secretory pathway, is mediated by SNARE proteins. The SNAREs are the minimal fusion machinery. They zipper from N-termini to membrane-anchored C-termini to form a 4-helix bundle that forces the apposed membranes to fuse. At synapses, the SNAREs comprise a single helix from syntaxin and synaptobrevin; SNAP-25 contributes the other two helices to complete the bundle. Unc13 mediates synaptic vesicle docking and converts syntaxin into the permissive "open" configuration. The SM protein, Unc18, is required to initiate and proofread SNARE assembly. The SNAREs are then held in a half-zippered state by synaptotagmin and complexin. Calcium removes the synaptotagmin and complexin block, and the SNAREs drive vesicle fusion. After fusion, NSF and alpha-SNAP unwind the SNAREs and thereby recharge the system for further rounds of fusion. In this chapter, we will describe the discovery of the SNAREs, their relevant structural features, models for their function, and the central role of Unc18. In addition, we will touch upon the regulation of SNARE complex formation by Unc13, complexin, and synaptotagmin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Palfreyman
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sam E West
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jin Y, Zhai RG. Presynaptic Cytomatrix Proteins. Adv Neurobiol 2023; 33:23-42. [PMID: 37615862 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_2] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The Cytomatrix Assembled at the active Zone (CAZ) of a presynaptic terminal displays electron-dense appearance and defines the center of the synaptic vesicle release. The protein constituents of CAZ are multiple-domain scaffolds that interact extensively with each other and also with an ensemble of synaptic vesicle proteins to ensure docking, fusion, and recycling. Reflecting the central roles of the active zone in synaptic transmission, CAZ proteins are highly conserved throughout evolution. As the nervous system increases complexity and diversity in types of neurons and synapses, CAZ proteins expand in the number of gene and protein isoforms and interacting partners. This chapter summarizes the discovery of the core CAZ proteins and current knowledge of their functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yishi Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - R Grace Zhai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Meunier FA, Hu Z. Functional Roles of UNC-13/ Munc13 and UNC-18/Munc18 in Neurotransmission. Adv Neurobiol 2023; 33:203-231. [PMID: 37615868 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_8] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic and secretory vesicles following calcium-triggered fusion with the plasma membrane. These exocytotic events are driven by assembly of a ternary SNARE complex between the vesicle SNARE synaptobrevin and the plasma membrane-associated SNAREs syntaxin and SNAP-25. Proteins that affect SNARE complex assembly are therefore important regulators of synaptic strength. In this chapter, we review our current understanding of the roles played by two SNARE interacting proteins: UNC-13/Munc13 and UNC-18/Munc18. We discuss results from both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems, highlighting recent advances, focusing on the current consensus on molecular mechanisms of action and nanoscale organization, and pointing out some unresolved aspects of their functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric A Meunier
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Vadisiute A, Meijer E, Szabó F, Hoerder-Suabedissen A, Kawashita E, Hayashi S, Molnár Z. The role of snare proteins in cortical development. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:457-475. [PMID: 35724379 PMCID: PMC9539872 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22892] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Neural communication in the adult nervous system is mediated primarily through chemical synapses, where action potentials elicit Ca2+ signals, which trigger vesicular fusion and neurotransmitter release in the presynaptic compartment. At early stages of development, the brain is shaped by communication via trophic factors and other extracellular signaling, and by contact-mediated cell-cell interactions including chemical synapses. The patterns of early neuronal impulses and spontaneous and regulated neurotransmitter release guide the precise topography of axonal projections and contribute to determining cell survival. The study of the role of specific proteins of the synaptic vesicle release machinery in the establishment, plasticity, and maintenance of neuronal connections during development has only recently become possible, with the advent of mouse models where various members of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex have been genetically manipulated. We provide an overview of these models, focusing on the role of regulated vesicular release and/or cellular excitability in synaptic assembly, development and maintenance of cortical circuits, cell survival, circuit level excitation-inhibition balance, myelination, refinement, and plasticity of key axonal projections from the cerebral cortex. These models are important for understanding various developmental and psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Auguste Vadisiute
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elise Meijer
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Florina Szabó
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eri Kawashita
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuichi Hayashi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Anatomy, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Major recent advances and previous data have led to a plausible model of how key proteins mediate neurotransmitter release. In this model, the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) receptor (SNARE) proteins syntaxin-1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin form tight complexes that bring the membranes together and are crucial for membrane fusion. NSF and SNAPs disassemble SNARE complexes and ensure that fusion occurs through an exquisitely regulated pathway that starts with Munc18-1 bound to a closed conformation of syntaxin-1. Munc18-1 also binds to synaptobrevin, forming a template to assemble the SNARE complex when Munc13-1 opens syntaxin-1 while bridging the vesicle and plasma membranes. Synaptotagmin-1 and complexin bind to partially assembled SNARE complexes, likely stabilizing them and preventing fusion until Ca2+ binding to synaptotagmin-1 causes dissociation from the SNARE complex and induces interactions with phospholipids that help trigger release. Although fundamental questions remain about the mechanism of membrane fusion, these advances provide a framework to investigate the mechanisms underlying presynaptic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josep Rizo
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tan C, Wang SSH, de Nola G, Kaeser PS. Rebuilding essential active zone functions within a synapse. Neuron 2022; 110:1498-1515.e8. [PMID: 35176221 PMCID: PMC9081183 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Presynaptic active zones are molecular machines that control neurotransmitter secretion. They form sites for vesicle docking and priming and couple vesicles to Ca2+ entry for release triggering. The complexity of active zone machinery has made it challenging to determine its mechanisms in release. Simultaneous knockout of the active zone proteins RIM and ELKS disrupts active zone assembly, abolishes vesicle docking, and impairs release. We here rebuild docking, priming, and Ca2+ secretion coupling in these mutants without reinstating active zone networks. Re-expression of RIM zinc fingers recruited Munc13 to undocked vesicles and rendered the vesicles release competent. Action potential triggering of release was reconstituted by docking these primed vesicles to Ca2+ channels through attaching RIM zinc fingers to CaVβ4-subunits. Our work identifies an 80-kDa β4-Zn protein that bypasses the need for megadalton-sized secretory machines, establishes that fusion competence and docking are mechanistically separable, and defines RIM zinc finger-Munc13 complexes as hubs for active zone function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shan Shan H Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Giovanni de Nola
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang S, Ma C. Neuronal SNARE complex assembly guided by Munc18-1 and Munc13-1. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1939-1957. [PMID: 35278279 PMCID: PMC9623535 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release by Ca2+ -triggered synaptic vesicle exocytosis is essential for information transmission in the nervous system. The soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) syntaxin-1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin-2 form the SNARE complex to bring synaptic vesicles and the plasma membranes together and to catalyze membrane fusion. Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 regulate synaptic vesicle priming via orchestrating neuronal SNARE complex assembly. In this review, we summarize recent advances toward the functions and molecular mechanisms of Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 in guiding neuronal SNARE complex assembly, and discuss the functional similarities and differences between Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 in neurons and their homologs in other intracellular membrane trafficking systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Grushin K, Kalyana Sundaram RV, Sindelar CV, Rothman JE. Munc13 structural transitions and oligomers that may choreograph successive stages in vesicle priming for neurotransmitter release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2121259119. [PMID: 35135883 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121259119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The speed of neural information processing in the human central nervous system is ultimately determined by the speed of chemical transmission at synapses, because action potentials have relatively short distances to traverse. The release of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters must therefore be remarkably fast as compared to other forms of membrane fusion. Six separate SNARE complexes cooperate to achieve this. But how can exactly six copies be assembled under every vesicle? Here we report that six copies of the key molecular chaperone that assembles the SNAREs can arrange themselves into a closed hexagon, providing the likely answer. How can exactly six SNARE complexes be assembled under each synaptic vesicle? Here we report cryo-EM crystal structures of the core domain of Munc13, the key chaperone that initiates SNAREpin assembly. The functional core of Munc13, consisting of C1–C2B–MUN–C2C (Munc13C) spontaneously crystallizes between phosphatidylserine-rich bilayers in two distinct conformations, each in a radically different oligomeric state. In the open conformation (state 1), Munc13C forms upright trimers that link the two bilayers, separating them by ∼21 nm. In the closed conformation, six copies of Munc13C interact to form a lateral hexamer elevated ∼14 nm above the bilayer. Open and closed conformations differ only by a rigid body rotation around a flexible hinge, which when performed cooperatively assembles Munc13 into a lateral hexamer (state 2) in which the key SNARE assembly-activating site of Munc13 is autoinhibited by its neighbor. We propose that each Munc13 in the lateral hexamer ultimately assembles a single SNAREpin, explaining how only and exactly six SNARE complexes are templated. We suggest that state 1 and state 2 may represent two successive states in the synaptic vesicle supply chain leading to “primed” ready-release vesicles in which SNAREpins are clamped and ready to release (state 3).
Collapse
|
15
|
Banerjee A, Imig C, Balakrishnan K, Kershberg L, Lipstein N, Uronen RL, Wang J, Cai X, Benseler F, Rhee JS, Cooper BH, Liu C, Wojcik SM, Brose N, Kaeser PS. Molecular and functional architecture of striatal dopamine release sites. Neuron 2022; 110:248-265.e9. [PMID: 34767769 PMCID: PMC8859508 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of dopamine for striatal circuit function, mechanistic understanding of dopamine transmission remains incomplete. We recently showed that dopamine secretion relies on the presynaptic scaffolding protein RIM, indicating that it occurs at active zone-like sites similar to classical synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Here, we establish using a systematic gene knockout approach that Munc13 and Liprin-α, active zone proteins for vesicle priming and release site organization, are important for dopamine secretion. Furthermore, RIM zinc finger and C2B domains, which bind to Munc13 and Liprin-α, respectively, are needed to restore dopamine release after RIM ablation. In contrast, and different from typical synapses, the active zone scaffolds RIM-BP and ELKS, and RIM domains that bind to them, are expendable. Hence, dopamine release necessitates priming and release site scaffolding by RIM, Munc13, and Liprin-α, but other active zone proteins are dispensable. Our work establishes that efficient release site architecture mediates fast dopamine exocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Lauren Kershberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Riikka-Liisa Uronen
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jiexin Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xintong Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fritz Benseler
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jeong Seop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Changliang Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sonja M Wojcik
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hilton BJ, Husch A, Schaffran B, Lin TC, Burnside ER, Dupraz S, Schelski M, Kim J, Müller JA, Schoch S, Imig C, Brose N, Bradke F. An active vesicle priming machinery suppresses axon regeneration upon adult CNS injury. Neuron 2022; 110:51-69.e7. [PMID: 34706221 PMCID: PMC8730507 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Neurons lose their capacity to regenerate during development, but the intracellular processes underlying this loss are unclear. We found that critical components of the presynaptic active zone prevent axon regeneration in adult mice. Transcriptomic analysis combined with live-cell imaging revealed that adult primary sensory neurons downregulate molecular constituents of the synapse as they acquire the ability to rapidly grow their axons. Pharmacogenetic reduction of neuronal excitability stimulated axon regeneration after adult spinal cord injury. Genetic gain- and loss-of-function experiments uncovered that essential synaptic vesicle priming proteins of the presynaptic active zone, but not clostridial-toxin-sensitive VAMP-family SNARE proteins, inhibit axon regeneration. Systemic administration of Baclofen reduced voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx in primary sensory neurons and promoted their regeneration after spinal cord injury. These findings indicate that functional presynaptic active zones constitute a major barrier to axon regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Hilton
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Husch
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Barbara Schaffran
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tien-Chen Lin
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Emily R Burnside
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dupraz
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Max Schelski
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jisoo Kim
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Susanne Schoch
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Bradke
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lipstein N, Chang S, Lin KH, López-Murcia FJ, Neher E, Taschenberger H, Brose N. Munc13-1 is a Ca 2+-phospholipid-dependent vesicle priming hub that shapes synaptic short-term plasticity and enables sustained neurotransmission. Neuron 2021; 109:3980-4000.e7. [PMID: 34706220 PMCID: PMC8691950 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
During ongoing presynaptic action potential (AP) firing, transmitter release is limited by the availability of release-ready synaptic vesicles (SVs). The rate of SV recruitment (SVR) to release sites is strongly upregulated at high AP frequencies to balance SV consumption. We show that Munc13-1-an essential SV priming protein-regulates SVR via a Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent mechanism. Using knockin mouse lines with point mutations in the Ca2+-phospholipid-binding C2B domain of Munc13-1, we demonstrate that abolishing Ca2+-phospholipid binding increases synaptic depression, slows recovery of synaptic strength after SV pool depletion, and reduces temporal fidelity of synaptic transmission, while increased Ca2+-phospholipid binding has the opposite effects. Thus, Ca2+-phospholipid binding to the Munc13-1-C2B domain accelerates SVR, reduces short-term synaptic depression, and increases the endurance and temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, demonstrating that Munc13-1 is a core vesicle priming hub that adjusts SV re-supply to demand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shuwen Chang
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kun-Han Lin
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Erwin Neher
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Taschenberger
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Camacho M, Quade B, Trimbuch T, Xu J, Sari L, Rizo J, Rosenmund C. Control of neurotransmitter release by two distinct membrane-binding faces of the Munc13-1 C 1C 2B region. eLife 2021; 10:e72030. [PMID: 34779770 PMCID: PMC8648301 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Munc13-1 plays a central role in neurotransmitter release through its conserved C-terminal region, which includes a diacyglycerol (DAG)-binding C1 domain, a Ca2+/PIP2-binding C2B domain, a MUN domain and a C2C domain. Munc13-1 was proposed to bridge synaptic vesicles to the plasma membrane through distinct interactions of the C1C2B region with the plasma membrane: (i) one involving a polybasic face that is expected to yield a perpendicular orientation of Munc13-1 and hinder release; and (ii) another involving the DAG-Ca2+-PIP2-binding face that is predicted to result in a slanted orientation and facilitate release. Here, we have tested this model and investigated the role of the C1C2B region in neurotransmitter release. We find that K603E or R769E point mutations in the polybasic face severely impair Ca2+-independent liposome bridging and fusion in in vitro reconstitution assays, and synaptic vesicle priming in primary murine hippocampal cultures. A K720E mutation in the polybasic face and a K706E mutation in the C2B domain Ca2+-binding loops have milder effects in reconstitution assays and do not affect vesicle priming, but enhance or impair Ca2+-evoked release, respectively. The phenotypes caused by combining these mutations are dominated by the K603E and R769E mutations. Our results show that the C1-C2B region of Munc13-1 plays a central role in vesicle priming and support the notion that two distinct faces of this region control neurotransmitter release and short-term presynaptic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcial Camacho
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of NeurophysiologyBerlinGermany
- NeuroCure Cluster of ExcellenceBerlinGermany
| | - Bradley Quade
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of NeurophysiologyBerlinGermany
- NeuroCure Cluster of ExcellenceBerlinGermany
| | - Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Levent Sari
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Cecil H. and Ida Green Comprehensive Center for Molecular, Computational and Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of NeurophysiologyBerlinGermany
- NeuroCure Cluster of ExcellenceBerlinGermany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Padmanarayana M, Liu H, Michelassi F, Li L, Betensky D, Dominguez MJ, Sutton RB, Hu Z, Dittman JS. A unique C2 domain at the C terminus of Munc13 promotes synaptic vesicle priming. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2016276118. [PMID: 33836576 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016276118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission comprises a tightly orchestrated sequence of molecular events, and Munc13-1 is a cornerstone of the fusion machinery. A forward genetic screen for defects in neurotransmitter release in Caenorhabditis elegans identified a mutation in the Munc13-1 ortholog UNC-13 that eliminated its unique and deeply conserved C-terminal module (referred to as HC2M) containing a Ca2+-insensitive C2 domain flanked by membrane-binding helices. The HC2M module could be functionally replaced in vivo by protein domains that localize to synaptic vesicles but not to the plasma membrane. HC2M is broadly conserved in other Unc13 family members and is required for efficient synaptic vesicle priming. We propose that the HC2M domain evolved as a vesicle/endosome adaptor and acquired synaptic vesicle specificity in the Unc13ABC protein family.
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Mast cell activation triggers intricate signaling pathways that promote the expression and/or release of a wide range of mediators including tumor necrosis factor (TNF; also known as TNFα). In this study, we investigated the connection between TNF secretion and TNF production, exploiting RBL-2H3 cells (a tumor analog of mucosal mast cells) that are depleted of Munc13-4, a crucial component of the mast cell exocytic machinery. We showed that antigen/IgE elicited robust TNF production in RBL-2H3 cells, but not in Munc13-4 knockout cells. The production defect was corrected when Munc13-4 was reintroduced into the knockout cell line, suggesting that the phenotype was not caused by any secondary effect derived from the knockout approach. Furthermore, pre-incubation of RBL-2H3 cells with R-7050, an antagonist of TNF receptor-dependent signaling, was shown to block TNF production without inhibiting TNF release. These observations provide fresh evidence for a robust feed-back loop to boost TNF production in activated mast cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tolulope E Ayo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Pratikshya Adhikari
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
| | - Shuzo Sugita
- Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hu Y, Zhu L, Ma C. Structural Roles for the Juxtamembrane Linker Region and Transmembrane Region of Synaptobrevin 2 in Membrane Fusion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:609708. [PMID: 33490074 PMCID: PMC7815645 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.609708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of the trans-SNARE complex is believed to generate a force transfer to the membranes to promote membrane fusion, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we show that helix-breaking and/or length-increasing insertions in the juxtamembrane linker region of synaptobrevin-2 exert diverse effects on liposome fusion, in a manner dependent on the insertion position relative to the two conserved tryptophan residues (W89/W90). Helical extension of synaptobrevin-2 to W89/W90 is a prerequisite for initiating membrane merger. The transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2 enables proper localization of W89/W90 at the membrane interface to gate force transfer. Besides, our data indicate that the SNARE regulatory components Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 impose liposome fusion strong demand on tight coupling between the SNARE motif and the transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zarebidaki F, Camacho M, Brockmann MM, Trimbuch T, Herman MA, Rosenmund C. Disentangling the Roles of RIM and Munc13 in Synaptic Vesicle Localization and Neurotransmission. J Neurosci 2020; 40:9372-85. [PMID: 33139401 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1922-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal requires docking of synaptic vesicles to the active zone membrane and formation of fusion-competent synaptic vesicles near voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Rab3-interacting molecule (RIM) is a critical active zone organizer, as it recruits Ca2+ channels and activates synaptic vesicle docking and priming via Munc13-1. However, our knowledge about Munc13-independent contributions of RIM to active zone functions is limited. To identify the functions that are solely mediated by RIM, we used genetic manipulations to control RIM and Munc13-1 activity in cultured hippocampal neurons from mice of either sex and compared synaptic ultrastructure and neurotransmission. We found that RIM modulates synaptic vesicle localization in the proximity of the active zone membrane independent of Munc13-1. In another step, both RIM and Munc13 mediate synaptic vesicle docking and priming. In addition, while the activity of both RIM and Munc13-1 is required for Ca2+-evoked release, RIM uniquely controls neurotransmitter release efficiency. However, activity-dependent augmentation of synaptic vesicle pool size relies exclusively on the action of Munc13s. Based on our results, we extend previous findings and propose a refined model in which RIM and Munc13-1 act in overlapping and independent stages of synaptic vesicle localization and release. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The presynaptic active zone is composed of scaffolding proteins that functionally interact to localize synaptic vesicles to release sites, ensuring neurotransmission. Our current knowledge of the presynaptic active zone function relies on structure-function analysis, which has provided detailed information on the network of interactions and the impact of active zone proteins. Yet, the hierarchical, redundant, or independent cooperation of each active zone protein to synapse functions is not fully understood. Rab3-interacting molecule and Munc13 are the two key functionally interacting active zone proteins. Here, we dissected the distinct actions of Rab3-interacting molecule and Munc13-1 from both ultrastructural and physiological aspects. Our findings provide a more detailed view of how these two presynaptic proteins orchestrate their functions to achieve synaptic transmission.
Collapse
|
23
|
Smaga I, Wydra K, Frankowska M, Fumagalli F, Sanak M, Filip M. Cocaine Self-Administration and Abstinence Modulate NMDA Receptor Subunits and Active Zone Proteins in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153480. [PMID: 32751823 PMCID: PMC7436251 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine-induced plasticity in the glutamatergic transmission and its N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critically involved in the development of substance use disorder. The presynaptic active zone proteins control structural synaptic plasticity; however, we are still far from understanding the molecular determinants important for cocaine seeking behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cocaine self-administration and different conditions of cocaine forced abstinence on the composition of the NMDA receptor subunits and on the levels of active zone proteins, i.e., Ras-related protein 3A (Rab3A), Rab3 interacting molecules 1 (RIM1) and mammalian uncoordinated protein 13 (Munc13) in the rat nucleus accumbens. We found an up-regulation of the accumbal levels of GluN1 and GluN2A following cocaine self-administration that was paralleled by an increase of Munc13 and RIM1 levels. At the same time, we also demonstrated that different conditions of cocaine abstinence abolished changes in NMDA receptor subunits (except for higher GluN1 levels after cocaine abstinence with extinction training), while an increase in the Munc13 concentration was shown in rats housed in an enriched environment. In conclusion, cocaine self-administration is associated with the specific up-regulation of the NMDA receptor subunit composition and is related with new presynaptic targets controlling neurotransmitter release. Moreover, changes observed in cocaine abstinence with extinction training and in an enriched environment in the levels of NMDA receptor subunit and in the active zone protein, respectively, may represent a potential regulatory step in cocaine-seeking behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Smaga
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.W.); (M.F.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-12-6623268; Fax: +48-12-6374500
| | - Karolina Wydra
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.W.); (M.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Małgorzata Frankowska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.W.); (M.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Fabio Fumagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Marek Sanak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawińska 8, PL 31-066 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland; (K.W.); (M.F.); (M.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wang X, Gong J, Zhu L, Wang S, Yang X, Xu Y, Yang X, Ma C. Munc13 activates the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and enables Munc18-1 to prime SNARE assembly. EMBO J 2020; 39:e103631. [PMID: 32643828 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019103631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Priming of synaptic vesicles involves Munc13-catalyzed transition of the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex to the SNARE complex in the presence of SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin-2; Munc13 drives opening of syntaxin-1 via the MUN domain while Munc18-1 primes SNARE assembly via domain 3a. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we have identified a number of residues in domain 3a of Munc18-1 that are crucial for Munc13 and Munc18-1 actions in SNARE complex assembly and synaptic vesicle priming. Our results showed that two residues (Q301/K308) at the side of domain 3a mediate the interaction between the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and the MUN domain. This interaction enables the MUN domain to drive the opening of syntaxin-1 linker region, thereby leading to the extension of domain 3a and promoting synaptobrevin-2 binding. In addition, we identified two residues (K332/K333) at the bottom of domain 3a that mediate the interaction between Munc18-1 and the SNARE motif of syntaxin-1. This interaction ensures Munc18-1 to persistently associate with syntaxin-1 during the conformational change of syntaxin-1 from closed to open, which reinforces the role of Munc18-1 in templating SNARE assembly. Taken together, our data suggest a mechanism by which Munc13 activates the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and enables Munc18-1 to prime SNARE assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jihong Gong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zhou H, Wei Z, Wang S, Yao D, Zhang R, Ma C. Structural and Functional Analysis of the CAPS SNARE-Binding Domain Required for SNARE Complex Formation and Exocytosis. Cell Rep 2019; 26:3347-3359.e6. [PMID: 30893606 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.02.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and dense-core vesicles requires both the Munc13 and CAPS (Ca2+-dependent activator proteins for secretion) proteins. CAPS contains a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-binding region (called the DAMH domain), which has been found to be essential for SNARE-mediated exocytosis. Here we report a crystal structure of the CAPS-1 DAMH domain at 2.9-Å resolution and reveal a dual role of CAPS-1 in SNARE complex formation. CAPS-1 plays an inhibitory role dependent on binding of the DAMH domain to the MUN domain of Munc13-1, which hinders the ability of Munc13 to catalyze opening of syntaxin-1, inhibiting SNARE complex formation, and a chaperone role dependent on interaction of the DAMH domain with the syntaxin-1/SNAP-25 complex, which stabilizes the open conformation of Syx1, facilitating SNARE complex formation. Our results suggest that CAPS-1 facilitates SNARE complex formation via the DAMH domain in a manner dependent on sequential and cooperative interaction with Munc13-1 and SNARE proteins.
Collapse
|
26
|
Magdziarek M, Bolembach AA, Stepien KP, Quade B, Liu X, Rizo J. Re-examining how Munc13-1 facilitates opening of syntaxin-1. Protein Sci 2020; 29:1440-1458. [PMID: 32086964 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Munc13-1 is crucial for neurotransmitter release and, together with Munc18-1, orchestrates assembly of the neuronal SNARE complex formed by syntaxin-1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin. Assembly starts with syntaxin-1 folded into a self-inhibited closed conformation that binds to Munc18-1. Munc13-1 is believed to catalyze the opening of syntaxin-1 to facilitate SNARE complex formation. However, different types of Munc13-1-syntaxin-1 interactions have been reported to underlie this activity, and the critical nature of Munc13-1 for release may arise because of its key role in bridging the vesicle and plasma membranes. To shed light into the mechanism of action of Munc13-1, we have used NMR spectroscopy, SNARE complex assembly experiments, and liposome fusion assays. We show that point mutations in a linker region of syntaxin-1 that forms intrinsic part of the closed conformation strongly impair stimulation of SNARE complex assembly and liposome fusion mediated by Munc13-1 fragments, even though binding of this linker region to Munc13-1 is barely detectable. Conversely, the syntaxin-1 SNARE motif clearly binds to Munc13-1, but a mutation that disrupts this interaction does not affect SNARE complex assembly or liposome fusion. We also show that Munc13-1 cannot be replaced by an artificial tethering factor to mediate liposome fusion. Overall, these results emphasize how very weak interactions can play fundamental roles in promoting conformational transitions and strongly support a model whereby the critical nature of Munc13-1 for neurotransmitter release arises not only from its ability to bridge two membranes but also from an active role in opening syntaxin-1 via interactions with the linker.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Magdziarek
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Agnieszka A Bolembach
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Karolina P Stepien
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bradley Quade
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Piotrowski C, Moretti R, Ihling CH, Haedicke A, Liepold T, Lipstein N, Meiler J, Jahn O, Sinz A. Delineating the Molecular Basis of the Calmodulin‒b Munc13-2 Interaction by Cross-Linking/Mass Spectrometry-Evidence for a Novel CaM Binding Motif in bMunc13-2. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010136. [PMID: 31936129 PMCID: PMC7017353 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring the interactions between the Ca2+ binding protein calmodulin (CaM) and its target proteins remains a challenging task. Members of the Munc13 protein family play an essential role in short-term synaptic plasticity, modulated via the interaction with CaM at the presynaptic compartment. In this study, we focus on the bMunc13-2 isoform expressed in the brain, as strong changes in synaptic transmission were observed upon its mutagenesis or deletion. The CaM–bMunc13-2 interaction was previously characterized at the molecular level using short bMunc13-2-derived peptides only, revealing a classical 1–5–10 CaM binding motif. Using larger protein constructs, we have now identified for the first time a novel and unique CaM binding site in bMunc13-2 that contains an N-terminal extension of a classical 1–5–10 CaM binding motif. We characterize this motif using a range of biochemical and biophysical methods and highlight its importance for the CaM–bMunc13-2 interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Piotrowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Rocco Moretti
- Center for Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
| | - Christian H. Ihling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - André Haedicke
- Biophysical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Thomas Liepold
- Proteomics Group, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Meiler
- Center for Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
| | - Olaf Jahn
- Proteomics Group, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (O.J.); (A.S.); Tel.: +49-551-3899-313 (O.J.); +49-345-5525170 (A.S.)
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
- Correspondence: (O.J.); (A.S.); Tel.: +49-551-3899-313 (O.J.); +49-345-5525170 (A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Limanaqi F, Biagioni F, Ryskalin L, Busceti CL, Fornai F. Molecular Mechanisms Linking ALS/FTD and Psychiatric Disorders, the Potential Effects of Lithium. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:450. [PMID: 31680867 PMCID: PMC6797817 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered proteostasis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, abnormal unfolded protein response (UPR), mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy impairment are interconnected events, which contribute to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In recent years, the mood stabilizer lithium was shown to potentially modify ALS/FTD beyond mood disorder-related pathology. The effects of lithium are significant in ALS patients carrying genetic variations in the UNC13 presynaptic protein, which occur in ALS/FTD and psychiatric disorders as well. In the brain, lithium modulates a number of biochemical pathways involved in synaptic plasticity, proteostasis, and neuronal survival. By targeting UPR-related events, namely ER stress, excitotoxicity and autophagy dysfunction, lithium produces plastic effects. These are likely to relate to neuroprotection, which was postulated for mood and motor neuron disorders. In the present manuscript, we try to identify and discuss potential mechanisms through which lithium copes concomitantly with ER stress, UPR and autophagy dysfunctions related to UNC13 synaptic alterations and aberrant RNA and protein processing. This may serve as a paradigm to provide novel insights into the neurobiology of ALS/FTD featuring early psychiatric disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Larisa Ryskalin
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Schmidt H. Control of Presynaptic Parallel Fiber Efficacy by Activity-Dependent Regulation of the Number of Occupied Release Sites. Front Syst Neurosci 2019; 13:30. [PMID: 31379524 PMCID: PMC6650762 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parallel fiber (PF) synapses show pronounced and lasting facilitation during bursts of high-frequency activity. They typically connect to their target neurons via a single active zone (AZ), harboring few release sites (~2-8) with moderate initial vesicular release probability (~0.2-0.4). In light of these biophysical characteristics, it seems surprising that PF synapses can sustain facilitation during high-frequency periods of tens of action potentials (APs). Recent findings suggest an increase in the number of occupied release sites due to ultra-rapid (~180 s-1), Ca2+ dependent recruitment of synaptic vesicles (SVs) from replenishment sites as major presynaptic mechanism of this lasting facilitation. On the molecular level, Synaptotagmin 7 or Munc13s have been suggested to be involved in mediating facilitation at PF synapses. The recruitment of SVs from replenishment sites appears to be reversible on a slower time-scale, thereby, explaining that PF synapses rapidly depress and ultimately become silent during low-frequency activity. Hence, PF synapses show high-frequency facilitation (HFF) but low-frequency depression (LFD). This behavior is explained by regulation of the number of occupied release sites at the AZ by AP frequency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hartmut Schmidt
- Carl-Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Quade B, Camacho M, Zhao X, Orlando M, Trimbuch T, Xu J, Li W, Nicastro D, Rosenmund C, Rizo J. Membrane bridging by Munc13-1 is crucial for neurotransmitter release. eLife 2019; 8:42806. [PMID: 30816091 PMCID: PMC6407922 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Munc13-1 plays a crucial role in neurotransmitter release. We recently proposed that the C-terminal region encompassing the C1, C2B, MUN and C2C domains of Munc13-1 (C1C2BMUNC2C) bridges the synaptic vesicle and plasma membranes through interactions involving the C2C domain and the C1-C2B region. However, the physiological relevance of this model has not been demonstrated. Here we show that C1C2BMUNC2C bridges membranes through opposite ends of its elongated structure. Mutations in putative membrane-binding sites of the C2C domain disrupt the ability of C1C2BMUNC2C to bridge liposomes and to mediate liposome fusion in vitro. These mutations lead to corresponding disruptive effects on synaptic vesicle docking, priming, and Ca2+-triggered neurotransmitter release in mouse neurons. Remarkably, these effects include an almost complete abrogation of release by a single residue substitution in this 200 kDa protein. These results show that bridging the synaptic vesicle and plasma membranes is a central function of Munc13-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Quade
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marcial Camacho
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaowei Zhao
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marta Orlando
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Daniela Nicastro
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Prinslow EA, Stepien KP, Pan YZ, Xu J, Rizo J. Multiple factors maintain assembled trans-SNARE complexes in the presence of NSF and αSNAP. eLife 2019; 8:38880. [PMID: 30657450 PMCID: PMC6353594 DOI: 10.7554/elife.38880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release requires formation of trans-SNARE complexes between the synaptic vesicle and plasma membranes, which likely underlies synaptic vesicle priming to a release-ready state. It is unknown whether Munc18-1, Munc13-1, complexin-1 and synaptotagmin-1 are important for priming because they mediate trans-SNARE complex assembly and/or because they prevent trans-SNARE complex disassembly by NSF-αSNAP, which can lead to de-priming. Here we show that trans-SNARE complex formation in the presence of NSF-αSNAP requires both Munc18-1 and Munc13-1, as proposed previously, and is facilitated by synaptotagmin-1. Our data also show that Munc18-1, Munc13-1, complexin-1 and likely synaptotagmin-1 contribute to maintaining assembled trans-SNARE complexes in the presence of NSF-αSNAP. We propose a model whereby Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 are critical not only for mediating vesicle priming but also for precluding de-priming by preventing trans-SNARE complex disassembly; in this model, complexin-1 also impairs de-priming, while synaptotagmin-1 may assist in priming and hinder de-priming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Prinslow
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Karolina P Stepien
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Yun-Zu Pan
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Limanaqi F, Biagioni F, Gambardella S, Ryskalin L, Fornai F. Interdependency Between Autophagy and Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking: Implications for Dopamine Release. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:299. [PMID: 30186112 PMCID: PMC6110820 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy (ATG) and the Ubiquitin Proteasome (UP) are the main clearing systems of eukaryotic cells, in that being ultimately involved in degrading damaged and potentially harmful cytoplasmic substrates. Emerging evidence implicates that, in addition to their classic catalytic function in the cytosol, autophagy and the proteasome act as modulators of neurotransmission, inasmuch as they orchestrate degradation and turnover of synaptic vesicles (SVs) and related proteins. These findings are now defining a novel synaptic scenario, where clearing systems and secretory pathways may be considered as a single system, which senses alterations in quality and distribution (in time, amount and place) of both synaptic proteins and neurotransmitters. In line with this, in the present manuscript we focus on evidence showing that, a dysregulation of secretory and trafficking pathways is quite constant in the presence of an impairment of autophagy-lysosomal machinery, which eventually precipitates synaptic dysfunction. Such a dual effect appears not to be just incidental but it rather represents the natural evolution of archaic cell compartments. While discussing these issues, we pose a special emphasis on the role of autophagy upon dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, which is early affected in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In detail, we discuss how autophagy is engaged not only in removing potentially dangerous proteins, which can interfere with the mechanisms of DA release, but also the fate of synaptic DA vesicles thus surveilling DA neurotransmission. These concepts contribute to shed light on early mechanisms underlying intersection of autophagy with DA-related synaptic disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Limanaqi
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Larisa Ryskalin
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Research for three decades and major recent advances have provided crucial insights into how neurotransmitters are released by Ca2+ -triggered synaptic vesicle exocytosis, leading to reconstitution of basic steps that underlie Ca2+ -dependent membrane fusion and yielding a model that assigns defined functions for central components of the release machinery. The soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) syntaxin-1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin-2 form a tight SNARE complex that brings the vesicle and plasma membranes together and is key for membrane fusion. N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs) disassemble the SNARE complex to recycle the SNAREs for another round of fusion. Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 orchestrate SNARE complex formation in an NSF-SNAP-resistant manner by a mechanism whereby Munc18-1 binds to synaptobrevin and to a self-inhibited "closed" conformation of syntaxin-1, thus forming a template to assemble the SNARE complex, and Munc13-1 facilitates assembly by bridging the vesicle and plasma membranes and catalyzing opening of syntaxin-1. Synaptotagmin-1 functions as the major Ca2+ sensor that triggers release by binding to membrane phospholipids and to the SNAREs, in a tight interplay with complexins that accelerates membrane fusion. Many of these proteins act as both inhibitors and activators of exocytosis, which is critical for the exquisite regulation of neurotransmitter release. It is still unclear how the actions of these various proteins and multiple other components that control release are integrated and, in particular, how they induce membrane fusion, but it can be expected that these fundamental questions can be answered in the near future, building on the extensive knowledge already available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josep Rizo
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Rodarte EM, Ramos MA, Davalos AJ, Moreira DC, Moreno DS, Cardenas EI, Rodarte AI, Petrova Y, Molina S, Rendon LE, Sanchez E, Breaux K, Tortoriello A, Manllo J, Gonzalez EA, Tuvim MJ, Dickey BF, Burns AR, Heidelberger R, Adachi R. Munc13 proteins control regulated exocytosis in mast cells. J Biol Chem 2017; 293:345-358. [PMID: 29141910 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.816884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) are involved in host defenses against pathogens and inflammation. Stimulated MCs release substances stored in their granules via regulated exocytosis. In other cell types, Munc13 (mammalian homolog of Caenorhabditis elegans uncoordinated gene 13) proteins play essential roles in regulated exocytosis. Here, we found that MCs express Munc13-2 and -4, and we studied their roles using global and conditional knock-out (KO) mice. In a model of systemic anaphylaxis, we found no difference between WT and Munc13-2 KO mice, but global and MC-specific Munc13-4 KO mice developed less hypothermia. This protection correlated with lower plasma histamine levels and with histological evidence of defective MC degranulation but not with changes in MC development, distribution, numbers, or morphology. In vitro assays revealed that the defective response in Munc13-4-deficient MCs was limited to regulated exocytosis, leaving other MC secretory effector responses intact. Single cell capacitance measurements in MCs from mouse mutants differing in Munc13-4 expression levels in their MCs revealed that as levels of Munc13-4 decrease, the rate of exocytosis declines first, and then the total amount of exocytosis decreases. A requirement for Munc13-2 in MC exocytosis was revealed only in the absence of Munc13-4. Electrophysiology and EM studies uncovered that the number of multigranular compound events (i.e. granule-to-granule homotypic fusion) was severely reduced in the absence of Munc13-4. We conclude that although Munc13-2 plays a minor role, Munc13-4 is essential for regulated exocytosis in MCs, and that this MC effector response is required for a full anaphylactic response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elsa M Rodarte
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Marco A Ramos
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Alfredo J Davalos
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Daniel C Moreira
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - David S Moreno
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Eduardo I Cardenas
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Alejandro I Rodarte
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Youlia Petrova
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Sofia Molina
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Luis E Rendon
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Elizabeth Sanchez
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Keegan Breaux
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Alejandro Tortoriello
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - John Manllo
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Erika A Gonzalez
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, México
| | - Michael J Tuvim
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Burton F Dickey
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Alan R Burns
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204
| | - Ruth Heidelberger
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Roberto Adachi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Walter AM, Müller R, Tawfik B, Wierda KD, Pinheiro PS, Nadler A, McCarthy AW, Ziomkiewicz I, Kruse M, Reither G, Rettig J, Lehmann M, Haucke V, Hille B, Schultz C, Sørensen JB. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate optical uncaging potentiates exocytosis. eLife 2017; 6:30203. [PMID: 29068313 PMCID: PMC5711374 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] is essential for exocytosis. Classical ways of manipulating PI(4,5)P2 levels are slower than its metabolism, making it difficult to distinguish effects of PI(4,5)P2 from those of its metabolites. We developed a membrane-permeant, photoactivatable PI(4,5)P2, which is loaded into cells in an inactive form and activated by light, allowing sub-second increases in PI(4,5)P2 levels. By combining this compound with electrophysiological measurements in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells, we show that PI(4,5)P2 uncaging potentiates exocytosis and identify synaptotagmin-1 (the Ca2+ sensor for exocytosis) and Munc13-2 (a vesicle priming protein) as the relevant effector proteins. PI(4,5)P2 activation of exocytosis did not depend on the PI(4,5)P2-binding CAPS-proteins, suggesting that PI(4,5)P2 uncaging may bypass CAPS-function. Finally, PI(4,5)P2 uncaging triggered the rapid fusion of a subset of readily-releasable vesicles, revealing a rapid role of PI(4,5)P2 in fusion triggering. Thus, optical uncaging of signaling lipids can uncover their rapid effects on cellular processes and identify lipid effectors. Cells in our body communicate by releasing compounds called transmitters that carry signals from one cell to the next. Packages called vesicles store transmitters within the signaling cell. When the cell needs to send a signal, the vesicles fuse with the cell's membrane and release their cargo. For many signaling processes, such as those used by neurons, this fusion is regulated, fast, and coupled to the signal that the cell receives to activate release. Specialized molecular machines made up of proteins and fatty acid molecules called signaling lipids enable this to happen. One signaling lipid called PI(4,5)P2 (short for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) is essential for vesicle fusion as well as for other processes in cells. It interacts with several proteins that help it control fusion and the release of transmitter. While it is possible to study the role of these proteins using genetic tools to inactivate them, the signaling lipids are more difficult to manipulate. Existing methods result in slow changes in PI(4,5)P2 levels, making it hard to directly attribute later changes to PI(4,5)P2. Walter, Müller, Tawfik et al. developed a new method to measure how PI(4,5)P2 affects transmitter release in living mammalian cells, which causes a rapid increase in PI(4,5)P2 levels. The method uses a chemical compound called “caged PI(4,5)P2” that can be loaded into cells but remains undetected until ultraviolet light is shone on it. The ultraviolet light uncages the compound, generating active PI(4,5)P2 in less than one second. Walter et al. found that when they uncaged PI(4,5)P2 in this way, the amount of transmitter released by cells increased. Combining this with genetic tools, it was possible to investigate which proteins of the release machinery were required for this effect. The results suggest that two different types of proteins that interact with PI(4,5)P2 are needed: one must bind PI(4,5)P2 to carry out its role and the other helps PI(4,5)P2 accumulate at the site of vesicle fusion. The new method also allowed Walter et al. to show that a fast increase in PI(4,5)P2 triggers a subset of vesicles to fuse very rapidly. This shows that PI(4,5)P2 rapidly regulates the release of transmitter. Caged PI(4,5)P2 will be useful to study other processes in cells that need PI(4,5)P2, helping scientists understand more about how signaling lipids control many different events at cellular membranes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Walter
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Müller
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bassam Tawfik
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Keimpe Db Wierda
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paulo S Pinheiro
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - André Nadler
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anthony W McCarthy
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Iwona Ziomkiewicz
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Kruse
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Gregor Reither
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens Rettig
- Cellular Neurophysiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Haucke
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bertil Hille
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Carsten Schultz
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Balslev Sørensen
- Neurosecretion group, Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Unc13 proteins are required for vesicle docking and priming during exocytosis. In this issue of Neuron, Lai et al. (2017) demonstrate that Unc13 ensures that the SNAREs assemble into functional subcomplexes. In a second manuscript, Michelassi et al. (2017) identify a previously unknown autoinhibited state for Unc13 mediated by the tandem C1 and C2 domains.
Collapse
|
37
|
Lai Y, Choi UB, Leitz J, Rhee HJ, Lee C, Altas B, Zhao M, Pfuetzner RA, Wang AL, Brose N, Rhee J, Brunger AT. Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Vesicle Priming by Munc13 and Munc18. Neuron 2017; 95:591-607.e10. [PMID: 28772123 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [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: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Munc13 catalyzes the transit of syntaxin from a closed complex with Munc18 into the ternary SNARE complex. Here we report a new function of Munc13, independent of Munc18: it promotes the proper syntaxin/synaptobrevin subconfiguration during assembly of the ternary SNARE complex. In cooperation with Munc18, Munc13 additionally ensures the proper syntaxin/SNAP-25 subconfiguration. In a reconstituted fusion assay with SNAREs, complexin, and synaptotagmin, inclusion of both Munc13 and Munc18 quadruples the Ca2+-triggered amplitude and achieves Ca2+ sensitivity at near-physiological concentrations. In Munc13-1/2 double-knockout neurons, expression of a constitutively open mutant of syntaxin could only minimally restore neurotransmitter release relative to Munc13-1 rescue. Together, the physiological functions of Munc13 may be related to regulation of proper SNARE complex assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ucheor B Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeremy Leitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hong Jun Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Choongku Lee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bekir Altas
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Minglei Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard A Pfuetzner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Austin L Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - JeongSeop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Michelassi F, Liu H, Hu Z, Dittman JS. A C1-C2 Module in Munc13 Inhibits Calcium-Dependent Neurotransmitter Release. Neuron 2017; 95:577-590.e5. [PMID: 28772122 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Almost all known forms of fast chemical synaptic transmission require the synaptic hub protein Munc13. This essential protein has also been implicated in mediating several forms of use-dependent plasticity, but the mechanisms by which it controls vesicle fusion and plasticity are not well understood. Using the C. elegans Munc13 ortholog UNC-13, we show that deletion of the C2B domain, the most highly conserved domain of Munc13, enhances calcium-dependent exocytosis downstream of vesicle priming, revealing a novel autoinhibitory role for the C2B. Furthermore, C2B inhibition is relieved by calcium binding to C2B, while the neighboring C1 domain acts together with C2B to stabilize the autoinhibited state. Selective disruption of Munc13 autoinhibition profoundly impacts nervous system function in vivo. Thus, C1-C2B exerts a basal inhibition on Munc13 in the primed state, permitting calcium- and lipid-dependent control of C1-C2B to modulate synaptic strength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Michelassi
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 QLD, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Dittman
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release is orchestrated by synaptic proteins, such as SNAREs, synaptotagmin, and complexin, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We visualized functionally active synaptic proteins reconstituted into proteoliposomes and their interactions in a native membrane environment by electron cryotomography with a Volta phase plate for improved resolvability. The images revealed individual synaptic proteins and synaptic protein complex densities at prefusion contact sites between membranes. We observed distinct morphologies of individual synaptic proteins and their complexes. The minimal system, consisting of neuronal SNAREs and synaptotagmin-1, produced point and long-contact prefusion states. Morphologies and populations of these states changed as the regulatory factors complexin and Munc13 were added. Complexin increased the membrane separation, along with a higher propensity of point contacts. Further inclusion of the priming factor Munc13 exclusively restricted prefusion states to point contacts, all of which efficiently fused upon Ca2+ triggering. We conclude that synaptic proteins have evolved to limit possible contact site assemblies and morphologies to those that promote fast Ca2+-triggered release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Gipson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Yoshiyuki Fukuda
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Radostin Danev
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ying Lai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Dong-Hua Chen
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Wolfgang Baumeister
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Many of the molecular players in the stimulus-secretion chain are similarly active in neurosecretion and catecholamine release. Therefore, studying chromaffin cells uncovered many details of the processes of docking, priming, and exocytosis of vesicles. However, morphological specializations at synapses, called active zones (AZs), confer extra speed of response and another layer of control to the fast release of vesicles by action potentials. Work at the Calyx of Held, a glutamatergic nerve terminal, has shown that in addition to such rapidly released vesicles, there is a pool of “Slow Vesicles,” which are held to be perfectly release-competent, but lack a final step of tight interaction with the AZ. It is argued here that such “Slow Vesicles” have many properties in common with chromaffin granules. The added complexity in the AZ-dependent regulation of “Fast Vesicles” can lead to misinterpretation of data on neurosecretion. Therefore, the study of Slow Vesicles and of chromaffin granules may provide a clearer picture of the early steps in the highly regulated process of neurosecretion.
Collapse
|
41
|
Gioia DA, Alexander NJ, McCool BA. Differential Expression of Munc13-2 Produces Unique Synaptic Phenotypes in the Basolateral Amygdala of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J Mice. J Neurosci 2016; 36:10964-77. [PMID: 27798178 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1785-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice are well known to differentially express a number of behavioral phenotypes, including anxiety-like behavior, fear conditioning, and drug self-administration. However, the cellular mechanisms contributing to these differences remain unclear. Given the basolateral amygdala (BLA) contributes to these behaviors, we characterized strain-dependent differences in presynaptic and postsynaptic function in BLA neurons by integrating electrophysiological, biochemical, and genetic approaches to identify specific molecular mechanisms. We found that D2 glutamatergic synapses expressed enhanced release probability and lower sensitivity to both the inhibitory effects of low extracellular calcium and facilitation by phorbol esters. Furthermore, repetitive stimulation of BLA afferents at low (2 Hz) or high (40 Hz) frequencies revealed that B6 terminals, relative to D2 terminals, were more sensitive to synaptic fatigue principally because of reduced vesicle recycling rates. Additionally, B6 synapses exhibited more robust augmentation of spontaneous release after repetitive stimulation relative to the D2 strain. In silico analysis of the inheritance of synaptic physiology from an array of BXD recombinant inbred strains (Jansen et al., 2011) identified a segment on chromosome 4 containing the gene encoding Munc13-2, which has calcium-/phorbol ester-binding domains and controls presynaptic function. We subsequently found that B6 mice express substantially higher levels of Munc13-2 compared with the D2 strain whereas expression of several release-related proteins, including Munc13-1, was equivalent. We then knocked down the expression of Munc13-2 in B6 mice using a short hairpin RNA and found this recapitulated the presynaptic phenotype of D2 BLA synapses. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice have been used to understand the genetic mechanisms controlling behaviors related to a number of psychiatric illnesses. However, the fundamental neurobiological mechanisms producing these behavioral characteristics remain unresolved. Here we identify a critical family of presynaptic proteins differentially expressed by these strains that control strain-dependent synaptic physiology. This family of proteins regulates excitation/secretion coupling, vesicle recycling, and short-term plasticity throughout the CNS. Thus, differential inheritance of proteins like Munc13-2 has broad implications for genetic control over a wide variety of pathological behaviors. Importantly, these proteins also contain a large number of modulatory sites, making them attractive potential targets for the development of novel neuropharmaceutical treatments.
Collapse
|
42
|
Löhner M, Babai N, Müller T, Gierke K, Atorf J, Joachimsthaler A, Peukert A, Martens H, Feigenspan A, Kremers J, Schoch S, Brandstätter JH, Regus-Leidig H. Analysis of RIM Expression and Function at Mouse Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapses. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7848-63. [PMID: 28701482 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2795-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RAB3A-interacting molecule (RIM) proteins are important regulators of transmitter release from active zones. At conventional chemical synapses, RIMs contribute substantially to vesicle priming and docking and their loss reduces the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles by up to 75%. The priming function of RIMs is mediated via the formation of a tripartite complex with Munc13 and RAB3A, which brings synaptic vesicles in close proximity to Ca2+ channels and the fusion site and activates Munc13. We reported previously that, at mouse photoreceptor ribbon synapses, vesicle priming is Munc13 independent. In this study, we examined RIM expression, distribution, and function at male and female mouse photoreceptor ribbon synapses. We provide evidence that RIM1α and RIM1β are highly likely absent from mouse photoreceptors and that RIM2α is the major large RIM isoform present at photoreceptor ribbon synapses. We show that mouse photoreceptors predominantly express RIM2 variants that lack the interaction domain for Munc13. Loss of full-length RIM2α in a RIM2α mutant mouse only marginally perturbs photoreceptor synaptic transmission. Our findings therefore strongly argue for a priming mechanism at the photoreceptor ribbon synapse that is independent of the formation of a RIM-Munc13-RAB3A complex and thus provide further evidence for a fundamental difference between photoreceptor ribbon synapses and conventional chemical synapses in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT RAB3A-interacting molecules 1 and 2 (RIM1/2) are essential regulators of exocytosis. At conventional chemical synapses, their function involves Ca2+ channel clustering and synaptic vesicle priming and docking through interactions with Munc13 and RAB3A, respectively. Examining wild-type and RIM2 mutant mice, we show here that the sensory photoreceptor ribbon synapses most likely lack RIM1 and predominantly express RIM2 variants that lack the interaction domain for Munc13. Our findings demonstrate that the photoreceptor-specific RIM variants are not essential for synaptic vesicle priming at photoreceptor ribbon synapses, which represents a fundamental difference between photoreceptor ribbon synapses and conventional chemical synapses with respect to synaptic vesicle priming mechanisms.
Collapse
|
43
|
Torres VI, Inestrosa NC. Vertebrate Presynaptic Active Zone Assembly: a Role Accomplished by Diverse Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:4513-4528. [PMID: 28685386 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0661-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Among all the biological systems in vertebrates, the central nervous system (CNS) is the most complex, and its function depends on specialized contacts among neurons called synapses. The assembly and organization of synapses must be exquisitely regulated for a normal brain function and network activity. There has been a tremendous effort in recent decades to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms participating in the formation of new synapses and their organization, maintenance, and regulation. At the vertebrate presynapses, proteins such as Piccolo, Bassoon, RIM, RIM-BPs, CAST/ELKS, liprin-α, and Munc13 are constant residents and participate in multiple and dynamic interactions with other regulatory proteins, which define network activity and normal brain function. Here, we review the function of these active zone (AZ) proteins and diverse factors involved in AZ assembly and maintenance, with an emphasis on axonal trafficking of precursor vesicles, protein homo- and hetero-oligomeric interactions as a mechanism of AZ trapping and stabilization, and the role of F-actin in presynaptic assembly and its modulation by Wnt signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viviana I Torres
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Center for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. .,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sitarska E, Xu J, Park S, Liu X, Quade B, Stepien K, Sugita K, Brautigam CA, Sugita S, Rizo J. Autoinhibition of Munc18-1 modulates synaptobrevin binding and helps to enable Munc13-dependent regulation of membrane fusion. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28477408 PMCID: PMC5464772 DOI: 10.7554/elife.24278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Munc18-1 orchestrates SNARE complex assembly together with Munc13-1 to mediate neurotransmitter release. Munc18-1 binds to synaptobrevin, but the relevance of this interaction and its relation to Munc13 function are unclear. NMR experiments now show that Munc18-1 binds specifically and non-specifically to synaptobrevin. Specific binding is inhibited by a L348R mutation in Munc18-1 and enhanced by a D326K mutation designed to disrupt the ‘furled conformation’ of a Munc18-1 loop. Correspondingly, the activity of Munc18-1 in reconstitution assays that require Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 for membrane fusion is stimulated by the D326K mutation and inhibited by the L348R mutation. Moreover, the D326K mutation allows Munc13-1-independent fusion and leads to a gain-of-function in rescue experiments in Caenorhabditis elegans unc-18 nulls. Together with previous studies, our data support a model whereby Munc18-1 acts as a template for SNARE complex assembly, and autoinhibition of synaptobrevin binding contributes to enabling regulation of neurotransmitter release by Munc13-1. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24278.001 Nerve cells communicate with other nerve cells by releasing small molecules called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters are first packaged inside bubble-like structures called vesicles, which fuse with the membrane of the nerve cell when it is stimulated. Once the vesicle and membrane have fused, the neurotransmitters are released outside the nerve cell and are detected when they bind to proteins on the surface of other nearby nerve cells. A machinery of different proteins controls membrane fusion. Amongst these proteins are five called Munc18-1, Munc13-1, syntaxin-1, synaptobrevin and SNAP-25. The last three form a tight bundle called SNARE complex that brings the vesicle and cell membrane together and is essential for the two to fuse. Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 orchestrate the assembly of the SNARE complex. Previous studies suggested that Munc18-1 binds to synaptobrevin, providing a template to bring syntaxin-1 and synaptobrevin together and thereby helping the SNARE complex to form. However, the importance of the interaction between Munc18-1 and synaptobrevin was not clearly established, and it was not known how Munc13-1 is involved. Sitarska, Xu et al. have now measured how mutated versions of Munc18-1 bind to synaptobrevin and tested how the mutations affect membrane fusion. A mutation in Munc18-1 that increased binding to synaptobrevin increased membrane fusion too, while a mutation that decreased binding had the opposite effect and reduced fusion. The results support the idea that Munc18-1 provides a template for the SNARE complex to form. One mutation stimulated Munc18-1 so that Munc13-1 was no longer needed for fusion when the mutant Munc18-1 was tested in fusion assays with artificial membranes. This mutation was designed to perturb the structure of a region of Munc18-1 protein that normally inhibits the binding of synaptobrevin. These results suggest that by adopting a state where it cannot bind synaptobrevin, Munc18-1 can only be stimulated to form the SNARE complex and trigger release of neurotransmitter when Munc13-1 is present. This provides a way for Munc13-1, which is regulated by many factors, to fine-tune the release of neurotransmitter. Future work will test whether these proteins work in the same way in living animals. This will help us understand how communication between neurons is finely controlled to enable the brain to carry out its many different tasks. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24278.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Sitarska
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Seungmee Park
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Bradley Quade
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Karolina Stepien
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Kyoko Sugita
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Chad A Brautigam
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Shuzo Sugita
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Xu J, Camacho M, Xu Y, Esser V, Liu X, Trimbuch T, Pan YZ, Ma C, Tomchick DR, Rosenmund C, Rizo J. Mechanistic insights into neurotransmitter release and presynaptic plasticity from the crystal structure of Munc13-1 C 1C 2BMUN. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28177287 PMCID: PMC5344669 DOI: 10.7554/elife.22567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Munc13–1 acts as a master regulator of neurotransmitter release, mediating docking-priming of synaptic vesicles and diverse presynaptic plasticity processes. It is unclear how the functions of the multiple domains of Munc13–1 are coordinated. The crystal structure of a Munc13–1 fragment including its C1, C2B and MUN domains (C1C2BMUN) reveals a 19.5 nm-long multi-helical structure with the C1 and C2B domains packed at one end. The similar orientations of the respective diacyglycerol- and Ca2+-binding sites of the C1 and C2B domains suggest that the two domains cooperate in plasma-membrane binding and that activation of Munc13–1 by Ca2+ and diacylglycerol during short-term presynaptic plasticity are closely interrelated. Electrophysiological experiments in mouse neurons support the functional importance of the domain interfaces observed in C1C2BMUN. The structure imposes key constraints for models of neurotransmitter release and suggests that Munc13–1 bridges the vesicle and plasma membranes from the periphery of the membrane-membrane interface. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22567.001 The human brain contains billions of cells called neurons that communicate with each other using molecules called neurotransmitters. An electrical signal in one neuron triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the cell, which then activate or inhibit electrical signals in neighboring neurons. Inside the cell, neurotransmitters are stored in small bubble-like structures called synaptic vesicles. The vesicles fuse with the membrane that surrounds the cell to release the neurotransmitters. This process must be tightly controlled to ensure that neurotransmitters are released rapidly and at the right time. A protein called Munc13 is a key component of the machinery that regulates the fusion of synaptic vesicles. It helps the synaptic vesicle to dock onto the cell membrane and get ready for fusion. Munc13 is a large protein and contains several different regions, including three domains called C1, C2B and MUN. These three domains control the release of neurotransmitters, but how they do so is poorly understood. Xu, Camacho et al. used a technique called X-ray crystallography to analyse the three-dimensional shape of the part of Munc13 that contains the three domains. The experiments reveal that the MUN domain forms a long rod-like shape with the C1 and C2B domains packed at one end. Several mutations that reduce the ability of the domains to interact with each other altered the release of neurotransmitters from mouse neurons to different extents. These findings suggest that the overall architecture of the region containing the C1, C2B and MUN domains is important for the normal activity of Munc13. The structure revealed by Xu, Camacho et al. sets a framework for understanding how Munc13 controls neurotransmitter release, and thus mediates diverse forms of information processing in the brain. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22567.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marcial Camacho
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yibin Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Victoria Esser
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yun-Zu Pan
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Diana R Tomchick
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Wang S, Choi UB, Gong J, Yang X, Li Y, Wang AL, Yang X, Brunger AT, Ma C. Conformational change of syntaxin linker region induced by Munc13s initiates SNARE complex formation in synaptic exocytosis. EMBO J 2017; 36:816-829. [PMID: 28137749 PMCID: PMC5350566 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201695775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 01/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein syntaxin-1 adopts a closed conformation when bound to Munc18-1, preventing binding to synaptobrevin-2 and SNAP-25 to form the ternary SNARE complex. Although it is known that the MUN domain of Munc13-1 catalyzes the transition from the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex to the SNARE complex, the molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we identified two conserved residues (R151, I155) in the syntaxin-1 linker region as key sites for the MUN domain interaction. This interaction is essential for SNARE complex formation in vitro and synaptic vesicle priming in neuronal cultures. Moreover, this interaction is important for a tripartite Munc18-1/syntaxin-1/MUN complex, in which syntaxin-1 still adopts a closed conformation tightly bound to Munc18-1, whereas the syntaxin-1 linker region changes its conformation, similar to that of the LE mutant of syntaxin-1 when bound to Munc18-1. We suggest that the conformational change of the syntaxin-1 linker region induced by Munc13-1 initiates ternary SNARE complex formation in the neuronal system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ucheor B Choi
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Photon Science, and Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jihong Gong
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Austin L Wang
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Photon Science, and Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Axel T Brunger
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Photon Science, and Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
Secretion is essential to many of the roles that platelets play in the vasculature, e.g., thrombosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, enabling platelets to modulate the microenvironment at sites of vascular lesions with a myriad of bioactive molecules stored in their granules. Past studies demonstrate that granule cargo release is mediated by Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins, which are required for granule-plasma membrane fusion. Several SNARE regulators, which control when, where, and how the SNAREs interact, have been identified in platelets. Additionally, platelet SNAREs are controlled by post-translational modifications, e.g., phosphorylation and acylation. Although there have been many recent insights into the mechanisms of platelet secretion, many questions remain: have we identified all the important regulators, does calcium directly control the process, and is platelet secretion polarized. In this review, we focus on the mechanics of platelet secretion and discuss how the secretory machinery functions in the pathway leading to membrane fusion and cargo release.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smita Joshi
- a Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA
| | - Sidney W Whiteheart
- a Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Taschenberger H, Woehler A, Neher E. Superpriming of synaptic vesicles as a common basis for intersynapse variability and modulation of synaptic strength. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4548-57. [PMID: 27432975 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1606383113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses show large variations in strength and short-term plasticity (STP). We show here that synapses displaying an increased strength either after posttetanic potentiation (PTP) or through activation of the phospholipase-C-diacylglycerol pathway share characteristic properties with intrinsically strong synapses, such as (i) pronounced short-term depression (STD) during high-frequency stimulation; (ii) a conversion of that STD into a sequence of facilitation followed by STD after a few conditioning stimuli at low frequency; (iii) an equalizing effect of such conditioning stimulation, which reduces differences among synapses and abolishes potentiation; and (iv) a requirement of long periods of rest for reconstitution of the original STP pattern. These phenomena are quantitatively described by assuming that a small fraction of "superprimed" synaptic vesicles are in a state of elevated release probability (p ∼ 0.5). This fraction is variable in size among synapses (typically about 30%), but increases after application of phorbol ester or during PTP. The majority of vesicles, released during repetitive stimulation, have low release probability (p ∼ 0.1), are relatively uniform in number across synapses, and are rapidly recruited. In contrast, superprimed vesicles need several seconds to be regenerated. They mediate enhanced synaptic strength at the onset of burst-like activity, the impact of which is subject to modulation by slow modulatory transmitter systems.
Collapse
|
49
|
Liu X, Seven AB, Camacho M, Esser V, Xu J, Trimbuch T, Quade B, Su L, Ma C, Rosenmund C, Rizo J. Functional synergy between the Munc13 C-terminal C1 and C2 domains. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27213521 PMCID: PMC4927299 DOI: 10.7554/elife.13696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release requires SNARE complexes to bring membranes together, NSF-SNAPs to recycle the SNAREs, Munc18-1 and Munc13s to orchestrate SNARE complex assembly, and Synaptotagmin-1 to trigger fast Ca2+-dependent membrane fusion. However, it is unclear whether Munc13s function upstream and/or downstream of SNARE complex assembly, and how the actions of their multiple domains are integrated. Reconstitution, liposome-clustering and electrophysiological experiments now reveal a functional synergy between the C1, C2B and C2C domains of Munc13-1, indicating that these domains help bridging the vesicle and plasma membranes to facilitate stimulation of SNARE complex assembly by the Munc13-1 MUN domain. Our reconstitution data also suggest that Munc18-1, Munc13-1, NSF, αSNAP and the SNAREs are critical to form a ‘primed’ state that does not fuse but is ready for fast fusion upon Ca2+ influx. Overall, our results support a model whereby the multiple domains of Munc13s cooperate to coordinate synaptic vesicle docking, priming and fusion. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13696.001 In the brain, neurons communicate with each other using small molecules called neurotransmitters. Electrical signals in one neuron trigger the release of the neurotransmitters, which then bind to receptor proteins on another neuron nearby. Neurotransmitters are packaged into small compartments called synaptic vesicles and are released from the neuron when these vesicles fuse with the membrane that surrounds the cell. Many proteins are involved in regulating this process to ensure that neurotransmitters are released at the right place and time. A large protein called Munc13 plays an important role in the release of neurotransmitters. It contains many different regions, including a long domain called MUN and three additional domains called C1, C2B and C2C among others. However, it is not clear how all these domains work together to control neurotransmitter release. Here Liu, Seven et al. address this question using purified proteins inserted into membranes as well as experiments in neurons from mice. The experiments show that the C1, C2B and C2C domains all play key roles in neurotransmitter release. Together with the MUN domain, these three domains help to form bridges between synaptic vesicles and the membrane surrounding the neuron. These bridges could help other proteins involved in neurotransmitter release to form a group that induces vesicle fusion. Liu, Seven et al.’s findings also suggest that Munc13 proteins cooperate with other proteins to form a 'primed' state in which a synaptic vesicle is ready to rapidly fuse with a neuron’s membrane when triggered to do so by an electrical signal. A future challenge is to find out how the proteins that form this primed state promote vesicle fusion. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13696.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Alpay Burak Seven
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marcial Camacho
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victoria Esser
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Junjie Xu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bradley Quade
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Lijing Su
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Department of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Extensive research has yielded crucial insights into the mechanism of neurotransmitter release, and working models for the functions of key proteins involved in release. The SNAREs Syntaxin-1, Synaptobrevin, and SNAP-25 play a central role in membrane fusion, forming SNARE complexes that bridge the vesicle and plasma membranes and that are disassembled by NSF-SNAPs. Exocytosis likely starts with Syntaxin-1 folded into a self-inhibited closed conformation that binds to Munc18-1. Munc13s open Syntaxin-1, orchestrating SNARE complex assembly in an NSF-SNAP-resistant manner together with Munc18-1. In the resulting primed state, with partially assembled SNARE complexes, fusion is inhibited by Synaptotagmin-1 and Complexins, which also perform active functions in release. Upon influx of Ca(2+), Synaptotagmin-1 activates fast release, likely by relieving the inhibition caused by Complexins and cooperating with the SNAREs in bringing the membranes together. Although alternative models exist and fundamental questions remain unanswered, a definitive description of the basic release mechanism may be available soon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josep Rizo
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390;
| | | |
Collapse
|