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López-Murcia FJ, Lin KH, Berns MMM, Ranjan M, Lipstein N, Neher E, Brose N, Reim K, Taschenberger H. Complexin has a dual synaptic function as checkpoint protein in vesicle priming and as a promoter of vesicle fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320505121. [PMID: 38568977 PMCID: PMC11009659 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320505121] [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: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The presynaptic SNARE-complex regulator complexin (Cplx) enhances the fusogenicity of primed synaptic vesicles (SVs). Consequently, Cplx deletion impairs action potential-evoked transmitter release. Conversely, though, Cplx loss enhances spontaneous and delayed asynchronous release at certain synapse types. Using electrophysiology and kinetic modeling, we show that such seemingly contradictory transmitter release phenotypes seen upon Cplx deletion can be explained by an additional of Cplx in the control of SV priming, where its ablation facilitates the generation of a "faulty" SV fusion apparatus. Supporting this notion, a sequential two-step priming scheme, featuring reduced vesicle fusogenicity and increased transition rates into the faulty primed state, reproduces all aberrations of transmitter release modes and short-term synaptic plasticity seen upon Cplx loss. Accordingly, we propose a dual presynaptic function for the SNARE-complex interactor Cplx, one as a "checkpoint" protein that guarantees the proper assembly of the fusion machinery during vesicle priming, and one in boosting vesicle fusogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José López-Murcia
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Kun-Han Lin
- Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37077, Germany
| | - Manon M. M. Berns
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Mrinalini Ranjan
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen37077, Germany
| | - Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Erwin Neher
- Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37077, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence ‘Multiscale Bioimaging’, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen37073, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence ‘Multiscale Bioimaging’, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen37073, Germany
| | - Kerstin Reim
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Holger Taschenberger
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen37075, Germany
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Tan C, de Nola G, Qiao C, Imig C, Born RT, Brose N, Kaeser PS. Munc13 supports fusogenicity of non-docked vesicles at synapses with disrupted active zones. eLife 2022; 11:79077. [PMID: 36398873 PMCID: PMC9822248 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Active zones consist of protein scaffolds that are tightly attached to the presynaptic plasma membrane. They dock and prime synaptic vesicles, couple them to voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and direct neurotransmitter release toward postsynaptic receptor domains. Simultaneous RIM + ELKS ablation disrupts these scaffolds, abolishes vesicle docking, and removes active zone-targeted Munc13, but some vesicles remain releasable. To assess whether this enduring vesicular fusogenicity is mediated by non-active zone-anchored Munc13 or is Munc13-independent, we ablated Munc13-1 and Munc13-2 in addition to RIM + ELKS in mouse hippocampal neurons. The hextuple knockout synapses lacked docked vesicles, but other ultrastructural features were near-normal despite the strong genetic manipulation. Removing Munc13 in addition to RIM + ELKS impaired action potential-evoked vesicle fusion more strongly than RIM + ELKS knockout by further decreasing the releasable vesicle pool. Hence, Munc13 can support some fusogenicity without RIM and ELKS, and presynaptic recruitment of Munc13, even without active zone anchoring, suffices to generate some fusion-competent vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Giovanni de Nola
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Claire Qiao
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Richard T Born
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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Lin KH, Taschenberger H, Neher E. A sequential two-step priming scheme reproduces diversity in synaptic strength and short-term plasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207987119. [PMID: 35969787 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207987119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system synapses are diverse in strength and plasticity. Short-term plasticity has traditionally been evaluated with models postulating a single pool of functionally homogeneous fusion-competent synaptic vesicles. Many observations are not easily explainable by such simple models. We established and experimentally validated a scheme of synaptic vesicle priming consisting of two sequential and reversible steps of release–machinery assembly. This sequential two-step priming scheme faithfully reproduced plasticity at a glutamatergic model synapse. The proposed priming and fusion scheme was consistent with the measured mean responses and with the experimentally observed heterogeneity between synapses. Vesicle fusion probability was found to be relatively uniform among synapses, while the priming equilibrium at rest of mature versus immature vesicle priming states differed greatly. Glutamatergic synapses display variable strength and diverse short-term plasticity (STP), even for a given type of connection. Using nonnegative tensor factorization and conventional state modeling, we demonstrate that a kinetic scheme consisting of two sequential and reversible steps of release–machinery assembly and a final step of synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion reproduces STP and its diversity among synapses. Analyzing transmission at the calyx of Held synapses reveals that differences in synaptic strength and STP are not primarily caused by variable fusion probability (pfusion) but are determined by the fraction of docked synaptic vesicles equipped with a mature release machinery. Our simulations show that traditional quantal analysis methods do not necessarily report pfusion of SVs with a mature release machinery but reflect both pfusion and the distribution between mature and immature priming states at rest. Thus, the approach holds promise for a better mechanistic dissection of the roles of presynaptic proteins in the sequence of SV docking, two-step priming, and fusion. It suggests a mechanism for activity-induced redistribution of synaptic efficacy.
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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.
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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.
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5
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Abstract
This review summarizes current knowledge of synaptic proteins that are central to synaptic vesicle fusion in presynaptic active zones, including SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors), synaptotagmin, complexin, Munc18 (mammalian uncoordinated-18), and Munc13 (mammalian uncoordinated-13), and highlights recent insights in the cooperation of these proteins for neurotransmitter release. Structural and functional studies of the synaptic fusion machinery suggest new molecular models of synaptic vesicle priming and Ca2+-triggered fusion. These studies will be a stepping-stone toward answering the question of how the synaptic vesicle fusion machinery achieves such high speed and sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Department of Structural Biology, Department of Photon Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
| | - Ucheor B Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Department of Structural Biology, Department of Photon Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
| | - Ying Lai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Department of Structural Biology, Department of Photon Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
| | - Jeremy Leitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Department of Structural Biology, Department of Photon Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
| | - Qiangjun Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Department of Structural Biology, Department of Photon Science, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
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Brunger AT, Leitz J, Zhou Q, Choi UB, Lai Y. Ca 2+-Triggered Synaptic Vesicle Fusion Initiated by Release of Inhibition. Trends Cell Biol 2018; 28:631-645. [PMID: 29706534 PMCID: PMC6056330 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent structural and functional studies of the synaptic vesicle fusion machinery suggest an inhibited tripartite complex consisting of neuronal soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), synaptotagmin, and complexin prior to Ca2+-triggered synaptic vesicle fusion. We speculate that Ca2+-triggered fusion commences with the release of inhibition by Ca2+ binding to synaptotagmin C2 domains. Subsequently, fusion is assisted by SNARE complex zippering and by active membrane remodeling properties of synaptotagmin. This additional, inhibitory role of synaptotagmin may be a general principle since other recent studies suggest that Ca2+ binding to extended synaptotagmin C2 domains enables lipid transport by releasing an inhibited state of the system, and that Munc13 may nominally be in an inhibited state, which is released upon Ca2+ binding to one of its C2 domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Jeremy Leitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Qiangjun Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ucheor B Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ying Lai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Photon Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Li Y, Wang S, Li T, Zhu L, Xu Y, Ma C. A Stimulation Function of Synaptotagmin-1 in Ternary SNARE Complex Formation Dependent on Munc18 and Munc13. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:256. [PMID: 28860966 PMCID: PMC5559510 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 06/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ca2+ sensor synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) plays an essential function in synaptic exocytosis. Recently, Syt1 has been implicated in synaptic vesicle priming, a maturation step prior to Ca2+-triggered membrane fusion that is believed to involve formation of the ternary SNARE complex and require priming proteins Munc18-1 and Munc13-1. However, the mechanisms of Syt1 in synaptic vesicle priming are still unclear. In this study, we found that Syt1 stimulates the transition from the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex to the ternary SNARE complex catalyzed by Munc13-1. This stimulation can be further enhanced in a membrane-containing environment. Further, we showed that Syt1, together with Munc18-1 and Munc13-1, stimulates trans ternary SNARE complex formation on membranes in a manner resistant to disassembly factors NSF and α-SNAP. Disruption of a proposed Syt1/SNARE binding interface strongly abrogated the stimulation function of Syt1. Our results suggest that binding of Syt1 to an intermediate SNARE assembly with Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 is critical for the stimulation function of Syt1 in ternary SNARE complex formation, and this stimulation may underlie the priming function of Syt1 in synaptic exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Tianzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
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Abstract
Synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion is a fine-tuned process requiring a concert of fusion machineries. Using cortical neurons from snapin-deficient mice, we reveal a role for Snapin in facilitating synchronous release. In addition to reduced frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mini-EPSCs) and smaller release-ready vesicle pool (RRP) size, snapin deficiency results in EPSCs with multiple peaks and increased rise and decay times, reflecting "desynchronized" SV fusion. These defects impair both synaptic precision and efficacy during sustained neurotransmission. Transient expression of Snapin not only rescues the slowed kinetics of EPSCs, but also further accelerates the rate found in wild-type neurons. Furthermore, expression of Snapin-C66A, a dimerization-defective mutant with impaired interactions with SNAP-25 and Synaptotagmin, reduces the RRP size but exhibits less effect on synchronized fusion. Our studies provide mechanistic insights into a dual role of Snapin in enhancing the efficacy of SV priming and in fine-tuning synchronous SV fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Yue Pan
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 35, Room 3B203, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3701, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jin-Hua Tian
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 35, Room 3B203, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3701, USA
| | - Zu-Hang Sheng
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 35, Room 3B203, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3701, USA
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