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Costamagna D, Casters V, Beltrà M, Sampaolesi M, Van Campenhout A, Ortibus E, Desloovere K, Duelen R. Autologous iPSC-Derived Human Neuromuscular Junction to Model the Pathophysiology of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. Cells 2022; 11:3351. [PMID: 36359747 PMCID: PMC9655384 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a heterogeneous group of genetic neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by progressive lower limb spasticity and weakness resulting from retrograde axonal degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Here, we generated in vitro human neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) from five HSP patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, by means of microfluidic strategy, to model disease-relevant neuropathologic processes. The strength of our NMJ model lies in the generation of lower MNs and myotubes from autologous hiPSC origin, maintaining the genetic background of the HSP patient donors in both cell types and in the cellular organization due to the microfluidic devices. Three patients characterized by a mutation in the SPG3a gene, encoding the ATLASTIN GTPase 1 protein, and two patients with a mutation in the SPG4 gene, encoding the SPASTIN protein, were included in this study. Differentiation of the HSP-derived lines gave rise to lower MNs that could recapitulate pathological hallmarks, such as axonal swellings with accumulation of Acetyl-α-TUBULIN and reduction of SPASTIN levels. Furthermore, NMJs from HSP-derived lines were lower in number and in contact point complexity, denoting an impaired NMJ profile, also confirmed by some alterations in genes encoding for proteins associated with microtubules and responsible for axonal transport. Considering the complexity of HSP, these patient-derived neuronal and skeletal muscle cell co-cultures offer unique tools to study the pathologic mechanisms and explore novel treatment options for rescuing axonal defects and diverse cellular processes, including membrane trafficking, intracellular motility and protein degradation in HSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domiziana Costamagna
- Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valérie Casters
- Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Beltrà
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Maurilio Sampaolesi
- Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anja Van Campenhout
- Locomotor and Neurological Disorder, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Ortibus
- Locomotor and Neurological Disorder, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Desloovere
- Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical Motion Analysis Laboratory, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robin Duelen
- Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Hörner SJ, Couturier N, Bruch R, Koch P, Hafner M, Rudolf R. hiPSC-Derived Schwann Cells Influence Myogenic Differentiation in Neuromuscular Cocultures. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123292. [PMID: 34943800 PMCID: PMC8699767 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motoneurons, skeletal muscle fibers, and Schwann cells form synapses, termed neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). These control voluntary body movement and are affected in numerous neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, a variety of NMJ in vitro models have been explored to enable mechanistic and pharmacological studies. So far, selective integration of Schwann cells in these models has been hampered, due to technical limitations. Here we present robust protocols for derivation of Schwann cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and their coculture with hiPSC-derived motoneurons and C2C12 muscle cells. Upon differentiation with tuned BMP signaling, Schwann cells expressed marker proteins, S100b, Gap43, vimentin, and myelin protein zero. Furthermore, they displayed typical spindle-shaped morphologies with long processes, which often aligned with motoneuron axons. Inclusion of Schwann cells in coculture experiments with hiPSC-derived motoneurons and C2C12 myoblasts enhanced myotube growth and affected size and number of acetylcholine receptor plaques on myotubes. Altogether, these data argue for the availability of a consistent differentiation protocol for Schwann cells and their amenability for functional integration into neuromuscular in vitro models, fostering future studies of neuromuscular mechanisms and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Janice Hörner
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (S.J.H.); (N.C.); (R.B.); (M.H.)
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Couturier
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (S.J.H.); (N.C.); (R.B.); (M.H.)
| | - Roman Bruch
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (S.J.H.); (N.C.); (R.B.); (M.H.)
| | - Philipp Koch
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany;
- Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research (HITBR gGmbH), 68159 Mannheim, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Hafner
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (S.J.H.); (N.C.); (R.B.); (M.H.)
- Institute of Medical Technology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and Heidelberg University, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Rudolf
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (S.J.H.); (N.C.); (R.B.); (M.H.)
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Technology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and Heidelberg University, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Proietti D, Giordani L, De Bardi M, D’Ercole C, Lozanoska-Ochser B, Amadio S, Volonté C, Marinelli S, Muchir A, Bouché M, Borsellino G, Sacco A, Puri PL, Madaro L. Activation of skeletal muscle-resident glial cells upon nerve injury. JCI Insight 2021; 6:143469. [PMID: 33661767 PMCID: PMC8119188 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.143469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report on the identification of Itga7-expressing muscle-resident glial cells activated by loss of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity. Gene expression analysis at the bulk and single-cell level revealed that these cells are distinct from Itga7-expressing muscle satellite cells. We show that a selective activation and expansion of Itga7+ glial cells occur in response to muscle nerve lesion. Upon activation, muscle glial-derived progenies expressed neurotrophic genes, including nerve growth factor receptor, which enables their isolation by FACS. We show that activated muscle glial cells also expressed genes potentially implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling at NMJs. We found that tenascin C, which was highly expressed by muscle glial cells, activated upon nerve injury and preferentially localized to NMJ. Interestingly, we observed that the activation of muscle glial cells by acute nerve injury was reversible upon NMJ repair. By contrast, in a mouse model of ALS, in which NMJ degeneration is progressive, muscle glial cells steadily increased over the course of the disease. However, they exhibited an impaired neurotrophic activity, suggesting that pathogenic activation of glial cells may be implicated in ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Proietti
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Giordani
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMRS 974, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | | | - Chiara D’Ercole
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Biliana Lozanoska-Ochser
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cinzia Volonté
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- CNR, National Research Council, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Marinelli
- CNR, National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
| | - Antoine Muchir
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMRS 974, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Marina Bouché
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Sacco
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Luca Madaro
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “la Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
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Aponte-Santiago NA, Ormerod KG, Akbergenova Y, Littleton JT. Synaptic Plasticity Induced by Differential Manipulation of Tonic and Phasic Motoneurons in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6270-6288. [PMID: 32631939 PMCID: PMC7424871 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional plasticity induced by neuronal competition is a common feature of developing nervous systems. However, the rules governing how postsynaptic cells differentiate between presynaptic inputs are unclear. In this study, we characterized synaptic interactions following manipulations of tonic Ib or phasic Is glutamatergic motoneurons that coinnervate postsynaptic muscles of male or female Drosophila melanogaster larvae. After identifying drivers for each neuronal subtype, we performed ablation or genetic manipulations to alter neuronal activity and examined the effects on synaptic innervation and function at neuromuscular junctions. Ablation of either Ib or Is resulted in decreased muscle response, with some functional compensation occurring in the Ib input when Is was missing. In contrast, the Is terminal failed to show functional or structural changes following loss of the coinnervating Ib input. Decreasing the activity of the Ib or Is neuron with tetanus toxin light chain resulted in structural changes in muscle innervation. Decreased Ib activity resulted in reduced active zone (AZ) number and decreased postsynaptic subsynaptic reticulum volume, with the emergence of filopodial-like protrusions from synaptic boutons of the Ib input. Decreased Is activity did not induce structural changes at its own synapses, but the coinnervating Ib motoneuron increased the number of synaptic boutons and AZs it formed. These findings indicate that tonic Ib and phasic Is motoneurons respond independently to changes in activity, with either functional or structural alterations in the Ib neuron occurring following ablation or reduced activity of the coinnervating Is input, respectively.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Both invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems display synaptic plasticity in response to behavioral experiences, indicating that underlying mechanisms emerged early in evolution. How specific neuronal classes innervating the same postsynaptic target display distinct types of plasticity is unclear. Here, we examined whether Drosophila tonic Ib and phasic Is motoneurons display competitive or cooperative interactions during innervation of the same muscle, or compensatory changes when the output of one motoneuron is altered. We established a system to differentially manipulate the motoneurons and examined the effects of cell type-specific changes to one of the inputs. Our findings indicate Ib and Is motoneurons respond differently to activity mismatch or loss of the coinnervating input, with the Ib subclass responding robustly compared with Is motoneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Aponte-Santiago
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Kiel G Ormerod
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Yulia Akbergenova
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - J Troy Littleton
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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Badawi Y, Nishimune H. Super-resolution microscopy for analyzing neuromuscular junctions and synapses. Neurosci Lett 2020; 715:134644. [PMID: 31765730 PMCID: PMC6937598 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Super-resolution microscopy techniques offer subdiffraction limited resolution that is two- to ten-fold improved compared to that offered by conventional confocal microscopy. This breakthrough in resolution for light microscopy has contributed to new findings in neuroscience and synapse biology. This review will focus on the Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, and Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) / Single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) techniques and compare them for the better understanding of their differences and their suitability for the analysis of synapse biology. In addition, we will discuss a few practical aspects of these microscopic techniques, including resolution, image acquisition speed, multicolor capability, and other advantages and disadvantages. Tips for the improvement of microscopy will be introduced; for example, information resources for recommended dyes, the limitations of multicolor analysis, and capabilities for live imaging. In addition, we will summarize how super-resolution microscopy has been used for analyses of neuromuscular junctions and synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yomna Badawi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Mukund K, Subramaniam S. Skeletal muscle: A review of molecular structure and function, in health and disease. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Syst Biol Med 2020; 12:e1462. [PMID: 31407867 PMCID: PMC6916202 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Decades of research in skeletal muscle physiology have provided multiscale insights into the structural and functional complexity of this important anatomical tissue, designed to accomplish the task of generating contraction, force and movement. Skeletal muscle can be viewed as a biomechanical device with various interacting components including the autonomic nerves for impulse transmission, vasculature for efficient oxygenation, and embedded regulatory and metabolic machinery for maintaining cellular homeostasis. The "omics" revolution has propelled a new era in muscle research, allowing us to discern minute details of molecular cross-talk required for effective coordination between the myriad interacting components for efficient muscle function. The objective of this review is to provide a systems-level, comprehensive mapping the molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle structure and function, in health and disease. We begin this review with a focus on molecular mechanisms underlying muscle tissue development (myogenesis), with an emphasis on satellite cells and muscle regeneration. We next review the molecular structure and mechanisms underlying the many structural components of the muscle: neuromuscular junction, sarcomere, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, and vasculature surrounding muscle. We highlight aberrant molecular mechanisms and their possible clinical or pathophysiological relevance. We particularly emphasize the impact of environmental stressors (inflammation and oxidative stress) in contributing to muscle pathophysiology including atrophy, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. This article is categorized under: Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease Developmental Biology > Developmental Processes in Health and Disease Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Mukund
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Shankar Subramaniam
- Department of Bioengineering, Bioinformatics & Systems BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoCalifornia
- Department of Computer Science and EngineeringUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoCalifornia
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and NanoengineeringUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoCalifornia
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Hoover KM, Gratz SJ, Qi N, Herrmann KA, Liu Y, Perry-Richardson JJ, Vanderzalm PJ, O'Connor-Giles KM, Broihier HT. The calcium channel subunit α 2δ-3 organizes synapses via an activity-dependent and autocrine BMP signaling pathway. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5575. [PMID: 31811118 PMCID: PMC6898181 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13165-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are highly specialized for neurotransmitter signaling, yet activity-dependent growth factor release also plays critical roles at synapses. While efficient neurotransmitter signaling relies on precise apposition of release sites and neurotransmitter receptors, molecular mechanisms enabling high-fidelity growth factor signaling within the synaptic microenvironment remain obscure. Here we show that the auxiliary calcium channel subunit α2δ-3 promotes the function of an activity-dependent autocrine Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). α2δ proteins have conserved synaptogenic activity, although how they execute this function has remained elusive. We find that α2δ-3 provides an extracellular scaffold for an autocrine BMP signal, suggesting a mechanistic framework for understanding α2δ's conserved role in synapse organization. We further establish a transcriptional requirement for activity-dependent, autocrine BMP signaling in determining synapse density, structure, and function. We propose that activity-dependent, autocrine signals provide neurons with continuous feedback on their activity state for modulating both synapse structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall M Hoover
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Scott J Gratz
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Nova Qi
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Kelsey A Herrmann
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yizhou Liu
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jahci J Perry-Richardson
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Pamela J Vanderzalm
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH, 44118, USA
| | | | - Heather T Broihier
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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Anderson SE, Han WM, Srinivasa V, Mohiuddin M, Ruehle MA, Moon JY, Shin E, San Emeterio CL, Ogle ME, Botchwey EA, Willett NJ, Jang YC. Determination of a Critical Size Threshold for Volumetric Muscle Loss in the Mouse Quadriceps. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2019; 25:59-70. [PMID: 30648479 PMCID: PMC6389771 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2018.0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [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: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT The goal of this study was to determine the threshold for a critically sized, nonhealing muscle defect by characterizing key components in the balance between fibrosis and regeneration as a function of injury size in the mouse quadriceps. There is currently limited understanding of what leads to a critically sized muscle defect and which muscle regenerative components are functionally impaired. With the substantial increase in preclinical VML models as testbeds for tissue engineering therapeutics, defining the critical threshold for VML injuries will be instrumental in characterizing therapeutic efficacy and potential for subsequent translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. Anderson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Woojin M. Han
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vunya Srinivasa
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mahir Mohiuddin
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Marissa A. Ruehle
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - June Young Moon
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Eunjung Shin
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cheryl L. San Emeterio
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Molly E. Ogle
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Edward A. Botchwey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nick J. Willett
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Orthopedics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Atlanta Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia
| | - Young C. Jang
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory Unversity, Atlanta, Georgia
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
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Osaki T, Uzel SGM, Kamm RD. Microphysiological 3D model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from human iPS-derived muscle cells and optogenetic motor neurons. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaat5847. [PMID: 30324134 PMCID: PMC6179377 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat5847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving loss of motor neurons (MNs) and muscle atrophy, still has no effective treatment, despite much research effort. To provide a platform for testing drug candidates and investigating the pathogenesis of ALS, we developed an ALS-on-a-chip technology (i.e., an ALS motor unit) using three-dimensional skeletal muscle bundles along with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived and light-sensitive channelrhodopsin-2-induced MN spheroids from a patient with sporadic ALS. Each tissue was cultured in a different compartment of a microfluidic device. Axon outgrowth formed neuromuscular junctions on the muscle fiber bundles. Light was used to activate muscle contraction, which was measured on the basis of pillar deflections. Compared to a non-ALS motor unit, the ALS motor unit generated fewer muscle contractions, there was MN degradation, and apoptosis increased in the muscle. Furthermore, the muscle contractions were recovered by single treatments and cotreatment with rapamycin (a mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor) and bosutinib (an Src/c-Abl inhibitor). This recovery was associated with up-regulation of autophagy and degradation of TAR DNA binding protein-43 in the MNs. Moreover, administering the drugs via an endothelial cell barrier decreased the expression of P-glycoprotein (an efflux pump that transports bosutinib) in the endothelial cells, indicating that rapamycin and bosutinib cotreatment has considerable potential for ALS treatment. This ALS-on-a-chip and optogenetics technology could help to elucidate the pathogenesis of ALS and to screen for drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Osaki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sebastien G. M. Uzel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, Room NE47-321, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- BioSystems and Micromechanics (BioSyM) IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
- Corresponding author.
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Rudling JE, Drever BD, Reid B, Bewick GS. Importance of Full-Collapse Vesicle Exocytosis for Synaptic Fatigue-Resistance at Rat Fast and Slow Muscle Neuromuscular Junctions. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19071936. [PMID: 30004407 PMCID: PMC6073735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release during trains of activity usually involves two vesicle pools (readily releasable pool, or RRP, and reserve pool, or RP) and two exocytosis mechanisms (“full-collapse” and “kiss-and-run”). However, synaptic terminals are adapted to differing patterns of use and the relationship of these factors to enabling terminals to adapt to differing transmitter release demands is not clear. We have therefore tested their contribution to a terminal’s ability to maintain release, or synaptic fatiguability in motor terminals innervating fast-twitch (fatiguable), and postural slow-twitch (fatigue-resistant) muscles. We used electrophysiological recording of neurotransmission and fluorescent dye markers of vesicle recycling to compare the effects of kinase inhibitors of varying myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) selectivity (staurosporine, wortmannin, LY294002 & ML-9) on vesicle pools, exocytosis mechanisms, and sustained neurotransmitter release, using postural-type activity train (20 Hz for 10 min) in these muscles. In both muscles, a small, rapidly depleted vesicle pool (the RRP) was inhibitor insensitive, continuing to release FM1-43, which is a marker of full-collapse exocytosis. MLCK-inhibiting kinases blocked all remaining FM1-43 loss from labelled vesicles. However, FM2-10 release only slowed, indicating continuing kiss-and-run exocytosis. Despite this, kinase inhibitors did not affect transmitter release fatiguability under normal conditions. However, augmenting release in high Ca2+ entirely blocked the synaptic fatigue-resistance of terminals in slow-twitch muscles. Thus, full-collapse exocytosis from most vesicles (the RP) is not essential for maintaining release during a single prolonged train. However, it becomes critical in fatigue-resistant terminals during high vesicle demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Rudling
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Benjamin D Drever
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Brian Reid
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Guy S Bewick
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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11
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Robinson SW, Bourgognon JM, Spiers JG, Breda C, Campesan S, Butcher A, Mallucci GR, Dinsdale D, Morone N, Mistry R, Smith TM, Guerra-Martin M, Challiss RAJ, Giorgini F, Steinert JR. Nitric oxide-mediated posttranslational modifications control neurotransmitter release by modulating complexin farnesylation and enhancing its clamping ability. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2003611. [PMID: 29630591 PMCID: PMC5890968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) regulates neuronal function and thus is critical for tuning neuronal communication. Mechanisms by which NO modulates protein function and interaction include posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as S-nitrosylation. Importantly, cross signaling between S-nitrosylation and prenylation can have major regulatory potential. However, the exact protein targets and resulting changes in function remain elusive. Here, we interrogated the role of NO-dependent PTMs and farnesylation in synaptic transmission. We found that NO compromises synaptic function at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in a cGMP-independent manner. NO suppressed release and reduced the size of available vesicle pools, which was reversed by glutathione (GSH) and occluded by genetic up-regulation of GSH-generating and de-nitrosylating glutamate-cysteine-ligase and S-nitroso-glutathione reductase activities. Enhanced nitrergic activity led to S-nitrosylation of the fusion-clamp protein complexin (cpx) and altered its membrane association and interactions with active zone (AZ) and soluble N-ethyl-maleimide-sensitive fusion protein Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological suppression of farnesylation and a nitrosylation mimetic mutant of cpx induced identical physiological and localization phenotypes as caused by NO. Together, our data provide evidence for a novel physiological nitrergic molecular switch involving S-nitrosylation, which reversibly suppresses farnesylation and thereby enhances the net-clamping function of cpx. These data illustrate a new mechanistic signaling pathway by which regulation of farnesylation can fine-tune synaptic release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W. Robinson
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jereme G. Spiers
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Susanna Campesan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Butcher
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna R. Mallucci
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David Dinsdale
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Nobuhiro Morone
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Raj Mistry
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Tim M. Smith
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | - R. A. John Challiss
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Joern R. Steinert
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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12
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Schmidt N, Basu S, Kröger S, Brenner HR. A Cell Culture System to Investigate the Presynaptic Control of Subsynaptic Membrane Differentiation at the Neuromuscular Junction. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1538:3-11. [PMID: 27943179 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6688-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
For decades the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been a favorite preparation to investigate basic mechanisms of synaptic function and development. As its function is to transmit action potentials in a 1:1 ratio from motor neurons to muscle fibers, the NMJ shows little or no functional plasticity, a property that makes it poorly suited to investigate mechanisms of use-dependent adaptations of synaptic function, which are thought to underlie learning and memory formation in the brain. On the other hand, the NMJ is unique in that the differentiation of the subsynaptic membrane is regulated by one major factor secreted from motor neurons, agrin. As a consequence, myotubes grown on a laminin substrate that is focally impregnated with recombinant neural agrin closely resemble the situation in vivo, where agrin secreted from motor neurons binds to the basal lamina of the NMJ's synaptic cleft to induce and maintain the subsynaptic muscle membrane. We provide here a detailed protocol through which acetylcholine receptor clusters are induced in cultured myotubes contacting laminin-attached agrin, enabling molecular, biochemical and cell biological analyses including high resolution microscopy in 4D. This preparation is ideally suited to investigate the mechanisms involved in the assembly of the postsynaptic muscle membrane, providing distinct advantages over inducing AChR clusters using soluble agrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Schmidt
- Department of Physiology II, Albert-Ludwigs University, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sreya Basu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus MC, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stephan Kröger
- Department of Physiological Genomics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Rudolf Brenner
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.
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13
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Ruven C, Li W, Li H, Wong WM, Wu W. Transplantation of Embryonic Spinal Cord Derived Cells Helps to Prevent Muscle Atrophy after Peripheral Nerve Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18030511. [PMID: 28264437 PMCID: PMC5372527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Injuries to peripheral nerves are frequent in serious traumas and spinal cord injuries. In addition to surgical approaches, other interventions, such as cell transplantation, should be considered to keep the muscles in good condition until the axons regenerate. In this study, E14.5 rat embryonic spinal cord fetal cells and cultured neural progenitor cells from different spinal cord segments were injected into transected musculocutaneous nerve of 200–300 g female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and atrophy in biceps brachii was assessed. Both kinds of cells were able to survive, extend their axons towards the muscle and form neuromuscular junctions that were functional in electromyographic studies. As a result, muscle endplates were preserved and atrophy was reduced. Furthermore, we observed that the fetal cells had a better effect in reducing the muscle atrophy compared to the pure neural progenitor cells, whereas lumbar cells were more beneficial compared to thoracic and cervical cells. In addition, fetal lumbar cells were used to supplement six weeks delayed surgical repair after the nerve transection. Cell transplantation helped to preserve the muscle endplates, which in turn lead to earlier functional recovery seen in behavioral test and electromyography. In conclusion, we were able to show that embryonic spinal cord derived cells, especially the lumbar fetal cells, are beneficial in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries due to their ability to prevent the muscle atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Ruven
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Wen Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Heng Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Wai-Man Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Wutian Wu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
- Joint Laboratory for CNS Regeneration, Jinan University and The University of Hong Kong, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510000, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell Storage and Clinical Application, Saliai Stem Cell Science and Technology, Guangzhou 510000, China.
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14
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Deschenes MR, Kressin KA, Garratt RN, Leathrum CM, Shaffrey EC. Effects of exercise training on neuromuscular junction morphology and pre- to post-synaptic coupling in young and aged rats. Neuroscience 2016; 316:167-77. [PMID: 26711679 PMCID: PMC4724510 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether pre- to post-synaptic coupling of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) could be maintained in the face of significant morphological remodeling brought about by exercise training, and whether aging altered this capacity. Eighteen young adult (8 mo) and eighteen aged (24 mo) Fischer 344 rats were randomly assigned to either endurance trained (treadmill running) or untrained control conditions resulting in four groups (N=9/group). After the 10-week intervention rats were euthanized and hindlimb muscles were surgically removed, quickly frozen at approximate resting length and stored at -85°C. The plantaris and EDL muscles were selected for study as they have different functions (ankle extensor and ankle flexor, respectively) but both are similarly and overwhelmingly comprised of fast-twitch myofibers. NMJs were stained with immunofluorescent procedures and images were collected with confocal microscopy. Each variable of interest was analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA with main effects of age and endurance training; in all cases significance was set at P⩽0.05. Results showed that no main effects of aging were detected in NMJs of either the plantaris or the EDL. Similarly, endurance training failed to alter any synaptic parameters of EDL muscles. The same exercise stimulus in the plantaris however, resulted in significant pre- and post-synaptic remodeling, but without altering pre- to post-synaptic coupling of the NMJs. Myofiber profiles of the same plantaris and EDL muscles were also analyzed. Unlike NMJs, myofibers displayed significant age-related atrophy in both the plantaris and EDL muscles. Overall, these results confirm that despite significant training-induced reconfiguration of NMJs, pre- to post-synaptic coupling remains intact underscoring the importance of maintaining proper apposition of neurotransmitter release and binding sites so that effective nerve to muscle communication is assured.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Deschenes
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA; Program in Neuroscience, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA.
| | - K A Kressin
- Program in Neuroscience, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - R N Garratt
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - C M Leathrum
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - E C Shaffrey
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
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15
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Nijhof B, Castells-Nobau A, Wolf L, Scheffer-de Gooyert JM, Monedero I, Torroja L, Coromina L, van der Laak JAWM, Schenck A. A New Fiji-Based Algorithm That Systematically Quantifies Nine Synaptic Parameters Provides Insights into Drosophila NMJ Morphometry. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004823. [PMID: 26998933 PMCID: PMC4801422 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphology of synapses is of central interest in neuroscience because of the intimate relation with synaptic efficacy. Two decades of gene manipulation studies in different animal models have revealed a repertoire of molecules that contribute to synapse development. However, since such studies often assessed only one, or at best a few, morphological features at a given synapse, it remained unaddressed how different structural aspects relate to one another. Furthermore, such focused and sometimes only qualitative approaches likely left many of the more subtle players unnoticed. Here, we present the image analysis algorithm 'Drosophila_NMJ_Morphometrics', available as a Fiji-compatible macro, for quantitative, accurate and objective synapse morphometry of the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a well-established glutamatergic model synapse. We developed this methodology for semi-automated multiparametric analyses of NMJ terminals immunolabeled for the commonly used markers Dlg1 and Brp and showed that it also works for Hrp, Csp and Syt. We demonstrate that gender, genetic background and identity of abdominal body segment consistently and significantly contribute to variability in our data, suggesting that controlling for these parameters is important to minimize variability in quantitative analyses. Correlation and principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to investigate which morphometric parameters are inter-dependent and which ones are regulated rather independently. Based on nine acquired parameters, we identified five morphometric groups: NMJ size, geometry, muscle size, number of NMJ islands and number of active zones. Based on our finding that the parameters of the first two principal components hardly correlated with each other, we suggest that different molecular processes underlie these two morphometric groups. Our study sets the stage for systems morphometry approaches at the well-studied Drosophila NMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Nijhof
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Castells-Nobau
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Louis Wolf
- Microscopical Imaging Centre (MIC), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jolanda M. Scheffer-de Gooyert
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ignacio Monedero
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laura Torroja
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lluis Coromina
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS) and CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jeroen A. W. M. van der Laak
- Microscopical Imaging Centre (MIC), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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16
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McDermott SM, Yang L, Halstead JM, Hamilton RS, Meignin C, Davis I. Drosophila Syncrip modulates the expression of mRNAs encoding key synaptic proteins required for morphology at the neuromuscular junction. RNA 2014; 20:1593-606. [PMID: 25171822 PMCID: PMC4174441 DOI: 10.1261/rna.045849.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Localized mRNA translation is thought to play a key role in synaptic plasticity, but the identity of the transcripts and the molecular mechanism underlying their function are still poorly understood. Here, we show that Syncrip, a regulator of localized translation in the Drosophila oocyte and a component of mammalian neuronal mRNA granules, is also expressed in the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction, where it regulates synaptic growth. We use RNA-immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR to show that Syncrip associates with a number of mRNAs encoding proteins with key synaptic functions, including msp-300, syd-1, neurexin-1, futsch, highwire, discs large, and α-spectrin. The protein levels of MSP-300, Discs large, and a number of others are significantly affected in syncrip null mutants. Furthermore, syncrip mutants show a reduction in MSP-300 protein levels and defects in muscle nuclear distribution characteristic of msp-300 mutants. Our results highlight a number of potential new players in localized translation during synaptic plasticity in the neuromuscular junction. We propose that Syncrip acts as a modulator of synaptic plasticity by regulating the translation of these key mRNAs encoding synaptic scaffolding proteins and other important components involved in synaptic growth and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M McDermott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - James M Halstead
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Russell S Hamilton
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Carine Meignin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Ilan Davis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
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17
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Kim MJ, O’Connor MB. Anterograde Activin signaling regulates postsynaptic membrane potential and GluRIIA/B abundance at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107443. [PMID: 25255438 PMCID: PMC4177838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the TGF-β superfamily play numerous roles in nervous system development and function. In Drosophila, retrograde BMP signaling at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is required presynaptically for proper synapse growth and neurotransmitter release. In this study, we analyzed whether the Activin branch of the TGF-β superfamily also contributes to NMJ development and function. We find that elimination of the Activin/TGF-β type I receptor babo, or its downstream signal transducer smox, does not affect presynaptic NMJ growth or evoked excitatory junctional potentials (EJPs), but instead results in a number of postsynaptic defects including depolarized membrane potential, small size and frequency of miniature excitatory junction potentials (mEJPs), and decreased synaptic densities of the glutamate receptors GluRIIA and B. The majority of the defective smox synaptic phenotypes were rescued by muscle-specific expression of a smox transgene. Furthermore, a mutation in actβ, an Activin-like ligand that is strongly expressed in motor neurons, phenocopies babo and smox loss-of-function alleles. Our results demonstrate that anterograde Activin/TGF-β signaling at the Drosophila NMJ is crucial for achieving normal abundance and localization of several important postsynaptic signaling molecules and for regulating postsynaptic membrane physiology. Together with the well-established presynaptic role of the retrograde BMP signaling, our findings indicate that the two branches of the TGF-β superfamily are differentially deployed on each side of the Drosophila NMJ synapse to regulate distinct aspects of its development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Jun Kim
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Michael B. O’Connor
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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DuVal MG, Gilbert MJH, Watson DE, Zerulla TC, Tierney KB, Allison WT. Growth differentiation factor 6 as a putative risk factor in neuromuscular degeneration. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89183. [PMID: 24586579 PMCID: PMC3938462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation of Glass bottom boat, the Drosophila homologue of the bone morphogenetic protein or growth/differentiation factor (BMP/GDF) family of genes in vertebrates, has been shown to disrupt development of neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). Here we tested whether this same conclusion can be broadened to vertebrate BMP/GDF genes. This analysis was also extended to consider whether such genes are required for NMJ maintenance in post-larval stages, as this would argue that BMP genes are viable candidates for analysis in progressive neuromuscular disease. Zebrafish mutants harboring homozygous null mutations in the BMP-family gene gdf6a were raised to adulthood and assessed for neuromuscular deficits. Fish lacking gdf6a exhibited decreased endurance (∼50%, p = 0.005) compared to wild type, and this deficit progressively worsened with age. These fish also presented with significantly disrupted NMJ morphology (p = 0.009), and a lower abundance of spinal motor neurons (∼50%, p<0.001) compared to wild type. Noting the similarity of these symptoms to those of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) model mice and fish, we asked if mutations in gdf6a would enhance the phenotypes observed in the latter, i.e. in zebrafish over-expressing mutant Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1). Amongst younger adult fish only bigenic fish harboring both the SOD1 transgene and gdf6a mutations, but not siblings with other combinations of these gene modifications, displayed significantly reduced endurance (75%, p<0.05) and strength/power (75%, p<0.05), as well as disrupted NMJ morphology (p<0.001) compared to wild type siblings. Bigenic fish also had lower survival rates compared to other genotypes. Thus conclusions regarding a role for BMP ligands in effecting NMJ can be extended to vertebrates, supporting conservation of mechanisms relevant to neuromuscular degenerative diseases. These conclusions synergize with past findings to argue for further analysis of GDF6 and other BMP genes as modifier loci, potentially affecting susceptibility to ALS and perhaps a broader suite of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle G. DuVal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | | | - D. Ezekiel Watson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - Tanja C. Zerulla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - Keith B. Tierney
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - W. Ted Allison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
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19
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Etherington SJ, Johnstone VPA, Everett AW. Modulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis in muscle-dependent long-term depression at the amphibian neuromuscular junction. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87174. [PMID: 24489862 PMCID: PMC3904971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We have labeled recycling synaptic vesicles at the somatic Bufo marinus neuromuscular junction with the styryl dye FM2-10 and provide direct evidence for refractoriness of exocytosis associated with a muscle activity-dependent form of long-term depression (LTD) at this synapse. FM2-10 dye unloading experiments demonstrated that the rate of vesicle exocytosis from the release ready pool (RRP) of vesicles was more than halved in the LTD (induced by 20 min of low frequency stimulation). Recovery from LTD, observed as a partial recovery of nerve-evoked muscle twitch amplitude, was accompanied by partial recovery of the refractoriness of RRP exocytosis. Unexpectedly, paired pulse plasticity, another routinely used indicator of presynaptic forms of synaptic plasticity, was unchanged in the LTD. We conclude that the LTD induces refractoriness of the neuromuscular vesicle release machinery downstream of presynaptic calcium entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Etherington
- School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Victoria P. A. Johnstone
- School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alan W. Everett
- School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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20
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Morimoto Y, Kato-Negishi M, Onoe H, Takeuchi S. Three-dimensional neuron-muscle constructs with neuromuscular junctions. Biomaterials 2013; 34:9413-9. [PMID: 24041425 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [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: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes a fabrication method of muscle tissue constructs driven by neurotransmitters released from activated motor neurons. The constructs consist of three-dimensional (3D) free-standing skeletal muscle fibers co-cultured with motor neurons. We differentiated mouse neural stem cells (mNSCs) cultured on the skeletal muscle fibers into neurons that extend their processes into the muscle fibers. We found that acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) were formed at the connection between the muscle fibers and the neurons. The neuron-muscle constructs consist of highly aligned, long and matured muscle fibers that facilitate wide contractions of muscle fibers in a single direction. The contractions of the neuron-muscle construct were observed after glutamic acid activation of the neurons. The contraction was stopped by treatment with curare, an neuromuscular junction (NMJ) antagonist. These results indicate that our method succeeded in the formation of NMJs in the neuron-muscle constructs. The neuron-muscle construct system can potentially be used in pharmacokinetic assays related to NMJ disease therapies and in soft-robotic actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Morimoto
- Center for International Research on Micronano Mechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
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Jha RM, Chrenek R, Magnotti LM, Cardozo DL. The isolation, differentiation, and survival in vivo of multipotent cells from the postnatal rat filum terminale. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65974. [PMID: 23762453 PMCID: PMC3675200 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) are undifferentiated cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that are capable of self-renewal and can be induced to differentiate into neurons and glia. Current sources of mammalian NSCs are confined to regions of the CNS that are critical to normal function and surgically difficult to access, which limits their therapeutic potential in human disease. We have found that the filum terminale (FT), a previously unexplored, expendable, and easily accessible tissue at the caudal end of the spinal cord, is a source of multipotent cells in postnatal rats and humans. In this study, we used a rat model to isolate and characterize the potential of these cells. Neurospheres derived from the rat FT are amenable to in vitro expansion in the presence of a combination of growth factors. These proliferating, FT-derived cells formed neurospheres that could be induced to differentiate into neural progenitor cells, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes by exposure to serum and/or adhesive substrates. Through directed differentiation using sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid in combination with various neurotrophic factors, FT-derived neurospheres generated motor neurons that were capable of forming neuromuscular junctions in vitro. In addition, FT-derived progenitors that were injected into chick embryos survived and could differentiate into both neurons and glia in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchira M. Jha
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ryan Chrenek
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Magnotti
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David L. Cardozo
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Arque G, Casanovas A, Dierssen M. Dyrk1A is dynamically expressed on subsets of motor neurons and in the neuromuscular junction: possible role in Down syndrome. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54285. [PMID: 23342120 PMCID: PMC3546979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present important motor deficits that derive from altered motor development of infants and young children. DYRK1A, a candidate gene for DS abnormalities has been implicated in motor function due to its expression in motor nuclei in the adult brain, and its overexpression in DS mouse models leads to hyperactivity and altered motor learning. However, its precise role in the adult motor system, or its possible involvement in postnatal locomotor development has not yet been clarified. During the postnatal period we observed time-specific expression of Dyrk1A in discrete subsets of brainstem nuclei and spinal cord motor neurons. Interestingly, we describe for the first time the presence of Dyrk1A in the presynaptic terminal of the neuromuscular junctions and its axonal transport from the facial nucleus, suggesting a function for Dyrk1A in these structures. Relevant to DS, Dyrk1A overexpression in transgenic mice (TgDyrk1A) produces motor developmental alterations possibly contributing to DS motor phenotypes and modifies the numbers of motor cholinergic neurons, suggesting that the kinase may have a role in the development of the brainstem and spinal cord motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Arque
- Genes and Disease Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Casanovas
- Department of Experimental Medicine and IRBLLEIDA, University of Lleida, School of Medicine, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Genes and Disease Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) and CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract
Immunofluorescence or IF is a technique allowing the visualization of a specific protein or antigen in cells or tissues by binding a specific antibody chemically conjugated with a fluorescence dye. Immunofluorescent staining is widely used in life science research, particularly for neuroscience. Here, we describe the immunofluorescent staining of whole-mount neonatal mouse diaphragms to study the morphological patterns of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) by using of presynaptic neuronal marker-neurofilament (NF) and synaptophysin antibodies; postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) were labeled with Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated α-bungarotoxin (α-BTX). Immunofluorescence-stained diaphragms were examined under a confocal microscope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Wu
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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24
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Abstract
Activity at the vertebrate nerve-muscle synapse creates large macroendosomes (MEs) via bulk membrane infolding. Visualized with the endocytic probe FM1-43, most (94%) of the ∼25 MEs/terminal created by brief (30-Hz, 18-second) stimulation dissipate rapidly (∼1 minute) into vesicles. Others, however, remain for hours. Here we study these "late" MEs by using 4D live imaging over a period of ∼1 hour after stimulation. We find that some (51/398 or 13%) disappear spontaneously via exocytosis, releasing their contents into the extracellular milieu. Others (at least 15/1,960 or 1%) fuse or closely associate with a second class of endosomes that take up acidophilic dyes (acidic endosomes [AEs]). AEs are plentiful (∼47/terminal) and exist independent of stimulation. Unlike MEs, which exhibit Brownian motion, AEs exhibit directed motion (average, 83 nm/sec) on microtubules within and among terminal boutons. AEs populate the axon as well, where movement is predominantly retrograde. They share biochemical and immunohistochemical markers (e.g., lysosomal-associated membrane protein [LAMP-1]) with lysosomes. Fusion/association of MEs with AEs suggests a sorting/degradation pathway in nerve terminals wherein the role of AEs is similar to that of lysosomes. Based on our data, we propose that MEs serve as sorting endosomes. Thus their contents, which include plasma membrane proteins, vesicle proteins, and extracellular levels of Ca(2+) , can be targeted either toward the reformation and budding of synaptic vesicles, toward secretion via exocytosis, or toward a degradation process that utilizes AEs either for lysis within the terminal or for transport toward the cell body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Stewart
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
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Brink DL, Gilbert M, Xie X, Petley-Ragan L, Auld VJ. Glial processes at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction match synaptic growth. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37876. [PMID: 22666403 PMCID: PMC3362601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glia are integral participants in synaptic physiology, remodeling and maturation from blowflies to humans, yet how glial structure is coordinated with synaptic growth is unknown. To investigate the dynamics of glial development at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), we developed a live imaging system to establish the relationship between glia, neuronal boutons, and the muscle subsynaptic reticulum. Using this system we observed processes from two classes of peripheral glia present at the NMJ. Processes from the subperineurial glia formed a blood-nerve barrier around the axon proximal to the first bouton. Processes from the perineurial glial extended beyond the end of the blood-nerve barrier into the NMJ where they contacted synapses and extended across non-synaptic muscle. Growth of the glial processes was coordinated with NMJ growth and synaptic activity. Increasing synaptic size through elevated temperature or the highwire mutation increased the extent of glial processes at the NMJ and conversely blocking synaptic activity and size decreased the presence and size of glial processes. We found that elevated temperature was required during embryogenesis in order to increase glial expansion at the nmj. Therefore, in our live imaging system, glial processes at the NMJ are likely indirectly regulated by synaptic changes to ensure the coordinated growth of all components of the tripartite larval NMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deidre L. Brink
- Department of Zoology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mary Gilbert
- Department of Zoology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiaojun Xie
- Department of Zoology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lindsay Petley-Ragan
- Department of Zoology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vanessa J. Auld
- Department of Zoology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Koper A, Schenck A, Prokop A. Analysis of adhesion molecules and basement membrane contributions to synaptic adhesion at the Drosophila embryonic NMJ. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36339. [PMID: 22558441 PMCID: PMC3340374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse formation and maintenance crucially underlie brain function in health and disease. Both processes are believed to depend on cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Many different classes of CAMs localise to synapses, including cadherins, protocadherins, neuroligins, neurexins, integrins, and immunoglobulin adhesion proteins, and further contributions come from the extracellular matrix and its receptors. Most of these factors have been scrutinised by loss-of-function analyses in animal models. However, which adhesion factors establish the essential physical links across synaptic clefts and allow the assembly of synaptic machineries at the contact site in vivo is still unclear. To investigate these key questions, we have used the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila embryos as a genetically amenable model synapse. Our ultrastructural analyses of NMJs lacking different classes of CAMs revealed that loss of all neurexins, all classical cadherins or all glutamate receptors, as well as combinations between these or with a Laminin deficiency, failed to reveal structural phenotypes. These results are compatible with a view that these CAMs might have no structural role at this model synapse. However, we consider it far more likely that they operate in a redundant or well buffered context. We propose a model based on a multi-adaptor principle to explain this phenomenon. Furthermore, we report a new CAM-independent adhesion mechanism that involves the basement membranes (BM) covering neuromuscular terminals. Thus, motorneuronal terminals show strong partial detachment of the junction when BM-to-cell surface attachment is impaired by removing Laminin A, or when BMs lose their structural integrity upon loss of type IV collagens. We conclude that BMs are essential to tie embryonic motorneuronal terminals to the muscle surface, lending CAM-independent structural support to their adhesion. Therefore, future developmental studies of these synaptic junctions in Drosophila need to consider the important contribution made by BM-dependent mechanisms, in addition to CAM-dependent adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Koper
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Prokop
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Davisson MT, Bronson RT, Tadenev ALD, Motley WW, Krishnaswamy A, Seburn KL, Burgess RW. A spontaneous mutation in contactin 1 in the mouse. PLoS One 2011; 6:e29538. [PMID: 22242131 PMCID: PMC3248457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the immunoglobulin-superfamily member cell adhesion molecule contactin1 (CNTN1) cause lethal congenital myopathy in human patients and neurodevelopmental phenotypes in knockout mice. Whether the mutant mice provide an accurate model of the human disease is unclear; resolving this will require additional functional tests of the neuromuscular system and examination of Cntn1 mutations on different genetic backgrounds that may influence the phenotype. Toward these ends, we have analyzed a new, spontaneous mutation in the mouse Cntn1 gene that arose in a BALB/c genetic background. The overt phenotype is very similar to the knockout of Cntn1, with affected animals having reduced body weight, a failure to thrive, locomotor abnormalities, and a lifespan of 2-3 weeks. Mice homozygous for the new allele have CNTN1 protein undetectable by western blotting, suggesting that it is a null or very severe hypomorph. In an analysis of neuromuscular function, neuromuscular junctions had normal morphology, consistent with previous studies in knockout mice, and the muscles were able to generate appropriate force when normalized for their reduced size in late stage animals. Therefore, the Cntn1 mutant mice do not show evidence for a myopathy, but instead the phenotype is likely to be caused by dysfunction in the nervous system. Given the similarity of CNTN1 to other Ig-superfamily proteins such as DSCAMs, we also characterized the expression and localization of Cntn1 in the retinas of mutant mice for developmental defects. Despite widespread expression, no anomalies in retinal anatomy were detected histologically or using a battery of cell-type specific antibodies. We therefore conclude that the phenotype of the Cntn1 mice arises from dysfunction in the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nervous system, and is similar in either a BALB/c or B6;129;Black Swiss background, raising a possible discordance between the mouse and human phenotypes resulting from Cntn1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriel T Davisson
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Histone acetylation of chromatin plays a key role in promoting the dynamic transcriptional responses in neurons that influence the neuroplasticity linked to cognitive ability, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that create such epigenetic marks remain to be elucidated. METHODS AND FINDINGS Here we use the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a well-characterized synapse model to identify HATs that control synaptic remodeling and structure. We show that the HAT dTip60 is concentrated both pre and post-synaptically within the NMJ. Presynaptic targeted reduction of dTip60 HAT activity causes a significant increase in synaptic bouton number that specifically affects type Is boutons. The excess boutons show a suppression of the active zone synaptic function marker bruchpilot, suggesting defects in neurotransmission function. Analysis of microtubule organization within these excess boutons using immunohistochemical staining to the microtubule associated protein futsch reveals a significant increase in the rearrangement of microtubule loop architecture that is required for bouton division. Moreover, α-tubulin acetylation levels of microtubules specifically extending into the terminal synaptic boutons are reduced in response to dTip60 HAT reduction. CONCLUSIONS Our results are the first to demonstrate a causative role for the HAT dTip60 in the control of synaptic plasticity that is achieved, at least in part, via regulation of the synaptic microtubule cytoskeleton. These findings have implications for dTip60 HAT dependant epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Sarthi
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Felice Elefant
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Abstract
Background TDP-43 is an RNA- and DNA-binding protein well conserved in animals including the mammals, Drosophila, and C. elegans. In mammals, the multi-function TDP-43 encoded by the TARDBP gene is a signature protein of the ubiquitin-positive inclusions (UBIs) in the diseased neuronal/glial cells of a range of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-U). Methodology/Principal Findings We have studied the function and dysfunction of the Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian TARDBP gene, dTDP, by genetic, behavioral, molecular, and cytological analyses. It was found that depletion of dTDP expression caused locomotion defect accompanied with an increase of the number of boutons at the neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). These phenotypes could be rescued by overexpression of Drosophila dTDP in the motor neurons. In contrast, overexpression of dTDP in the motor neurons also resulted in reduced larval and adult locomotor activities, but this was accompanied by a decrease of the number of boutons and axon branches at NMJ. Significantly, constitutive overexpression of dTDP in the mushroom bodies caused smaller axonal lobes as well as severe learning deficiency. On the other hand, constitutive mushroom body-specific knockdown of dTDP expression did not affect the structure of the mushroom bodies, but it impaired the learning ability of the flies, albeit moderately. Overexpression of dTDP also led to the formation of cytosolic dTDP (+) aggregates. Conclusion/Significance These data together demonstrate the neuronal functions of dTDP, and by implication the mammalian TDP-43, in learning and locomotion. The effects of mis-expression of dTDP on Drosophila NMJ suggest that eukaryotic TDP-43 guards against over development of the synapses. The conservation of the regulatory pathways of functions and dysfunctions of Drosophila dTDP and mammalian TDP-43 also shows the feasibility of using the flies as a model system for studying the normal TDP-43 function and TDP-43 proteinopathies in the vertebrates including human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Jau Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Wei Cheng
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - C.-K. James Shen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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30
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Lienbacher K, Mustari M, Ying HS, Büttner-Ennever JA, Horn AKE. Do palisade endings in extraocular muscles arise from neurons in the motor nuclei? Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52:2510-9. [PMID: 21228383 PMCID: PMC3088547 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.10-6008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2010] [Revised: 10/04/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to localize the cell bodies of palisade endings that are associated with the myotendinous junctions of the extraocular muscles. METHODS Rhesus monkeys received tract-tracer injections (tetramethylrhodamine dextran [TMR-DA] or choleratoxin subunit B [CTB]) into the oculomotor and trochlear nuclei, which contain the motoneurons of extraocular muscles. All extraocular muscles were processed for the combined immunocytochemical detection of the tracer and SNAP-25 or synaptophysin for the visualization of the complete muscle innervation. RESULTS In all muscles--except the lateral rectus--en plaque and en grappe motor endings, but also palisade endings, were anterogradely labeled. In addition a few tracer-labeled tendon organs were found. One group of tracer-negative nerve fibers was identified as thin tyrosine hydroxylase-positive sympathetic fibers, and a second less numerous group of tracer-negative fibers may originate from the trigeminal ganglia. No cellular or terminal tracer labeling was present within the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus or the trigeminal ganglia. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm those of earlier studies and furthermore suggest that the somata of palisade endings are located close to the extraocular motor nuclei--in this case, probably within the C and S groups around the periphery of the oculomotor nucleus. The multiple en grappe endings have also been shown to arise from these cells groups, but it is not possible to distinguish different populations in these experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline Lienbacher
- From the Institute of Anatomy I, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Mustari
- the Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Howard S. Ying
- the Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Anja K. E. Horn
- From the Institute of Anatomy I, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Liu Z, Huang Y, Zhang Y, Chen D, Zhang YQ. Drosophila Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 regulates axonal transport of synaptic vesicles and is required for synaptic development and transmission. J Neurosci 2011; 31:2052-63. [PMID: 21307243 PMCID: PMC6633061 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3278-10.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2010] [Revised: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) converts long-chain fatty acids to acyl-CoAs that are indispensable for lipid metabolism and cell signaling. Mutations in ACSL4 cause nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation. We previously demonstrated that Drosophila dAcsl is functionally homologous to human ACSL4, and is required for axonal targeting in the brain. Here, we report that Drosophila dAcsl mutants exhibited distally biased axonal aggregates that were immunopositive for the synaptic-vesicle proteins synaptotagmin (Syt) and cysteine-string protein, the late endosome/lysosome marker lysosome-associated membrane protein 1, the autophagosomal marker Atg8, and the multivesicular body marker Hrs (hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate). In contrast, the axonal distribution of mitochondria and the cell adhesion molecule Fas II (fasciclin II) was normal. Electron microscopy revealed accumulation of prelysomes and multivesicle bodies. These aggregates appear as retrograde instead of anterograde cargos. Live imaging analysis revealed that dAcsl mutations increased the velocity of anterograde transport but reduced the flux, velocity, and processivity of retrograde transport of Syt-enhanced green fluorescent protein-labeled vesicles. Immunohistochemical and electrophysiological analyses showed significantly reduced growth and stability of neuromuscular synapses, and impaired glutamatergic neurotransmission in dAcsl mutants. The axonal aggregates and synaptic defects in dAcsl mutants were fully rescued by neuronal expression of human ACSL4, supporting a functional conservation of ACSL4 across species in the nervous system. Together, our findings demonstrate that dAcsl regulates axonal transport of synaptic vesicles and is required for synaptic development and function. Defects in axonal transport and synaptic function may account, at least in part, for the pathogenesis of ACSL4-related mental retardation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Liu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Di Chen
- Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yong Q. Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Amaral E, Guatimosim S, Guatimosim C. Using the fluorescent styryl dye FM1-43 to visualize synaptic vesicles exocytosis and endocytosis in motor nerve terminals. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 689:137-48. [PMID: 21153790 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-950-5_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The styryl dye FM1-43 is a powerful tool to track exocytosis, endocytosis and recycling of secretory granules or vesicles. Due to its unique structure, dye molecules reversibly partition into the outer leaflet of surface membrane without permeating due to two cationic charges located in their headgroup. When a secretory cell is stimulated to evoke exocytosis, FM1-43 molecules that were inserted in the membrane are internalized during compensatory endocytosis and newly formed secretory granules or vesicles become stained with dye (staining/endocytosis). If stained secretory granules or vesicles undergo exocytosis in dye-free medium, due to concentration gradient, FM1-43 molecules dissociate from the membrane and loose fluorescence (destaining/exocytosis). Using a fluorescence microscope attached to a CCD camera or a confocal, it is possible to follow secretion in live cell or tissue preparations and in this chapter, we will make a description of FM1-43 staining and destaining protocol using the neuromuscular junction as experimental model. This technique has allowed answering important questions concerning synaptic vesicle recycling, which is a key step for neuronal communication. In addition, FM1-43 has proven to be an excellent tool for investigating membrane internalization and endosome recycling in a variety of cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernani Amaral
- Department of Morphology, ICB, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Alexander M, Selman G, Seetharaman A, Chan KKM, D'Souza SA, Byrne AB, Roy PJ. MADD-2, a homolog of the Opitz syndrome protein MID1, regulates guidance to the midline through UNC-40 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Cell 2010; 18:961-72. [PMID: 20627078 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2009] [Revised: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 04/14/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The body muscles of Caenorhabditis elegans extend plasma membrane extensions called muscle arms to the midline motor axons to form the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. Through a screen for muscle arm development defective (Madd) mutants, we previously discovered that the UNC-40/DCC guidance receptor directs muscle arm extension through the Rho-GEF UNC-73. Here, we describe a gene identified through our mutant screen called madd-2, and show that it functions in an UNC-40 pathway. MADD-2 is a C1-TRIM protein and a homolog of human MID1, mutations in which cause Opitz Syndrome. We demonstrate that MADD-2 functions cell autonomously to direct muscle and axon extensions to the ventral midline of worms. Our results suggest that MADD-2 may enhance UNC-40 pathway activity by facilitating an interaction between UNC-40 and UNC-73. The analogous phenotypes that result from MADD-2 and MID1 mutations suggest that C1-TRIM proteins may have a conserved biological role in midline-oriented developmental events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Alexander
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
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Scantlebury N, Zhao XL, Rodriguez Moncalvo VG, Camiletti A, Zahanova S, Dineen A, Xin JH, Campos AR. The Drosophila gene RanBPM functions in the mushroom body to regulate larval behavior. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10652. [PMID: 20498842 PMCID: PMC2871054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vertebrates, Ran-Binding Protein in the Microtubule Organizing Center (RanBPM) appears to function as a scaffolding protein in a variety of signal transduction pathways. In Drosophila, RanBPM is implicated in the regulation of germ line stem cell (GSC) niche organization in the ovary. Here, we addressed the role of RanBPM in nervous system function in the context of Drosophila larval behavior. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We report that in Drosophila, RanBPM is required for larval feeding, light-induced changes in locomotion, and viability. RanBPM is highly expressed in the Kenyon cells of the larval mushroom body (MB), a structure well studied for its role in associative learning in Drosophila and other insects. RanBPM mutants do not display major disruption in nervous system morphology besides reduced proliferation. Expression of the RanBPM gene in the Kenyon cells is sufficient to rescue all behavioral phenotypes. Through genetic epistasis experiments, we demonstrate that RanBPM participates with the Drosophila orthologue of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) in the development of neuromuscular junction (NMJ). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrate that the RanBPM gene functions in the MB neurons for larval behavior. Our results suggest a role for this gene in an FMRP-dependent process. Taken together our findings point to a novel role for the MB in larval behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Scantlebury
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiao Li Zhao
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Alison Camiletti
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stacy Zahanova
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aidan Dineen
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ji-Hou Xin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana Regina Campos
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Molina W, Reyes E, Joshi N, Barrios A, Hernandez L. Maturation of the neuromuscular junction in masseters of human fetus. Rom J Morphol Embryol 2010; 51:537-541. [PMID: 20809033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present investigation is to examine if the histological maturation of the neuromuscular junction in the masseters of human fetuses has already begun by the 12-th week of gestation or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-four masseter muscles from 14 human fetuses at gestational age 12 weeks were divided into two groups. In the first group, muscle sections were stained with Bielschowsky and Holzer stains for examination of neurofibrils and glial cells respectively. In the second group, rhodamine and fluorescein conjugated alpha-bungarotoxin were used to detect nicotinic receptors and anti-GAD for neuronal terminals. RESULTS It was observed the presence of one axon for each end-plate and glial cells spread over a branched axon. The nicotinic receptors clustered in the neuromuscular junction, neuronal terminals and large oval nucleus were detected. CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that the maturation of the neuromuscular junctions of the masseter muscles in the human fetuses has already begun at the 12-th week of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Molina
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
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Madhavan R, Gong ZL, Ma JJ, Chan AWS, Peng HB. The function of cortactin in the clustering of acetylcholine receptors at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. PLoS One 2009; 4:e8478. [PMID: 20041195 PMCID: PMC2793544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Accepted: 12/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Postsynaptic enrichment of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ) depends on the activation of the muscle receptor tyrosine MuSK by neural agrin. Agrin-stimulation of MuSK is known to initiate an intracellular signaling cascade that leads to the clustering of AChRs in an actin polymerization-dependent manner, but the molecular steps which link MuSK activation to AChR aggregation remain incompletely defined. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study we used biochemical, cell biological and molecular assays to investigate a possible role in AChR clustering of cortactin, a protein which is a tyrosine kinase substrate and a regulator of F-actin assembly and which has also been previously localized at AChR clustering sites. We report that cortactin was co-enriched at AChR clusters in situ with its target the Arp2/3 complex, which is a key stimulator of actin polymerization in cells. Cortactin was further preferentially tyrosine phosphorylated at AChR clustering sites and treatment of myotubes with agrin significantly enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin. Importantly, forced expression in myotubes of a tyrosine phosphorylation-defective cortactin mutant (but not wild-type cortactin) suppressed agrin-dependent AChR clustering, as did the reduction of endogenous cortactin levels using RNA interference, and introduction of the mutant cortactin into muscle cells potently inhibited synaptic AChR aggregation in response to innervation. Conclusion Our results suggest a novel function of phosphorylation-dependent cortactin signaling downstream from agrin/MuSK in facilitating AChR clustering at the developing NMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavan Madhavan
- Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhuolin L. Gong
- Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Jin Ma
- Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ariel W. S. Chan
- Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - H. Benjamin Peng
- Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail:
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Fuentes-Medel Y, Logan MA, Ashley J, Ataman B, Budnik V, Freeman MR. Glia and muscle sculpt neuromuscular arbors by engulfing destabilized synaptic boutons and shed presynaptic debris. PLoS Biol 2009; 7:e1000184. [PMID: 19707574 PMCID: PMC2724735 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As synapses grow at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction, they shed membrane material in an activity-dependent manner. Glia and postsynaptic muscle cells are required to engulf this debris to ensure new synaptic growth. Synapse remodeling is an extremely dynamic process, often regulated by neural activity. Here we show during activity-dependent synaptic growth at the Drosophila NMJ many immature synaptic boutons fail to form stable postsynaptic contacts, are selectively shed from the parent arbor, and degenerate or disappear from the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Surprisingly, we also observe the widespread appearance of presynaptically derived “debris” during normal synaptic growth. The shedding of both immature boutons and presynaptic debris is enhanced by high-frequency stimulation of motorneurons, indicating that their formation is modulated by neural activity. Interestingly, we find that glia dynamically invade the NMJ and, working together with muscle cells, phagocytose shed presynaptic material. Suppressing engulfment activity in glia or muscle by disrupting the Draper/Ced-6 pathway results in a dramatic accumulation of presynaptic debris, and synaptic growth in turn is severely compromised. Thus actively growing NMJ arbors appear to constitutively generate an excessive number of immature boutons, eliminate those that are not stabilized through a shedding process, and normal synaptic expansion requires the continuous clearance of this material by both glia and muscle cells. The synapse is the fundamental unit of communication between neurons and their target cells. As the nervous system matures, synapses often need to be added, removed, or otherwise remodeled to accommodate the changing needs of the circuit. Such changes are often regulated by the activity of the circuit and are thought to entail the extension or retraction of cellular processes to form or break synaptic connections. We have explored the precise nature of new synapse formation during development of the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). We find that growing synapses are actually quite wasteful and shed significant amounts of presynaptic membranes and a subset of immature (nonfunctional) synapses. The shedding of this presynaptic material is enhanced by stimulating the activity of the neuron, suggesting that its formation is dependent upon NMJ activity. Surprisingly, we find presynaptic membranes are efficiently removed from the NMJ by two surrounding cell types: glia cells (a neuronal ‘support cell’), which invade the NMJ, and the postsynaptic muscle cell itself. Blocking the ability of these cells to ingest shed presynaptic membranes dramatically reduces new synapse growth, suggesting that the shed presynaptic material is inhibitory to new synapse addition. Therefore, our data demonstrate that actively growing synapses constantly shed membrane material, that glia and muscles work to rapidly clear this from the NMJ, and that the combined efforts of glia and muscles are critical for the proper addition of new synapses to neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuly Fuentes-Medel
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mary A. Logan
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James Ashley
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bulent Ataman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vivian Budnik
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (VB); (MRF)
| | - Marc R. Freeman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (VB); (MRF)
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Abstract
A primer on new research by Fuentes-Medel and colleagues explains the important role of non-neural cells in clearing neural debris, which is continuously produced during the normal remodeling processes that establish and maintain neural connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Suk Chung
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
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Kumar V, Fricke R, Bhar D, Reddy-Alla S, Krishnan KS, Bogdan S, Ramaswami M. Syndapin promotes formation of a postsynaptic membrane system in Drosophila. Mol Biol Cell 2009; 20:2254-64. [PMID: 19244343 PMCID: PMC2669032 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e08-10-1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Revised: 01/30/2009] [Accepted: 02/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Syndapins belong to the F-BAR domain protein family whose predicted functions in membrane tubulation remain poorly studied in vivo. At Drosophila neuromuscular junctions, syndapin is associated predominantly with a tubulolamellar postsynaptic membrane system known as the subsynaptic reticulum (SSR). We show that syndapin overexpression greatly expands this postsynaptic membrane system. Syndapin can expand the SSR in the absence of dPAK and Dlg, two known regulators of SSR development. Syndapin's N-terminal F-BAR domain, required for membrane tubulation in cultured cells, is required for SSR expansion. Consistent with a model in which syndapin acts directly on postsynaptic membrane, SSR expansion requires conserved residues essential for membrane binding in vitro. However, syndapin's Src homology (SH) 3 domain, which negatively regulates membrane tubulation in cultured cells, is required for synaptic targeting and strong SSR induction. Our observations advance knowledge of syndapin protein function by 1) demonstrating the in vivo relevance of membrane remodeling mechanisms suggested by previous in vitro and structural analyses, 2) showing that SH3 domains are necessary for membrane expansion observed in vivo, and 3) confirming that F-BAR proteins control complex membrane structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimlesh Kumar
- *Smurfit Institute of Genetics and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin Trinity College, Dublin-2, Ireland
| | - Robert Fricke
- Institut für Neurobiologie, Universität Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Debjani Bhar
- Department of Biological Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | | | - K. S. Krishnan
- Department of Biological Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560085, India
| | - Sven Bogdan
- Institut für Neurobiologie, Universität Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Mani Ramaswami
- *Smurfit Institute of Genetics and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin Trinity College, Dublin-2, Ireland
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560085, India
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
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Zalewska E. Insight into the motor unit activation and structure properties gained from EMG signal analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2009; 120:449-50. [PMID: 19243991 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2008] [Accepted: 12/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Bogdanik L, Framery B, Frölich A, Franco B, Mornet D, Bockaert J, Sigrist SJ, Grau Y, Parmentier ML. Muscle dystroglycan organizes the postsynapse and regulates presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. PLoS One 2008; 3:e2084. [PMID: 18446215 PMCID: PMC2323113 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2008] [Accepted: 03/17/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) comprises dystrophin, dystroglycan, sarcoglycan, dystrobrevin and syntrophin subunits. In muscle fibers, it is thought to provide an essential mechanical link between the intracellular cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix and to protect the sarcolemma during muscle contraction. Mutations affecting the DGC cause muscular dystrophies. Most members of the DGC are also concentrated at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), where their deficiency is often associated with NMJ structural defects. Hence, synaptic dysfunction may also intervene in the pathology of dystrophic muscles. Dystroglycan is a central component of the DGC because it establishes a link between the extracellular matrix and Dystrophin. In this study, we focused on the synaptic role of Dystroglycan (Dg) in Drosophila. Methodology/Principal Findings We show that Dg was concentrated postsynaptically at the glutamatergic NMJ, where, like in vertebrates, it controls the concentration of synaptic Laminin and Dystrophin homologues. We also found that synaptic Dg controlled the amount of postsynaptic 4.1 protein Coracle and alpha-Spectrin, as well as the relative subunit composition of glutamate receptors. In addition, both Dystrophin and Coracle were required for normal Dg concentration at the synapse. In electrophysiological recordings, loss of postsynaptic Dg did not affect postsynaptic response, but, surprisingly, led to a decrease in glutamate release from the presynaptic site. Conclusion/Significance Altogether, our study illustrates a conservation of DGC composition and interactions between Drosophila and vertebrates at the synapse, highlights new proteins associated with this complex and suggests an unsuspected trans-synaptic function of Dg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Bogdanik
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
| | - Bérénice Framery
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
| | - Andreas Frölich
- European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bénédicte Franco
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
| | - Dominique Mornet
- INSERM, ERI 25, Muscle and Pathologies, Université de Montpellier1, EA 4202, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Joël Bockaert
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
| | - Stephan J. Sigrist
- European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Institut für Klinische Neurobiologie, Rudolf-Virchow Zentrum, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yves Grau
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Laure Parmentier
- CNRS, UMR 5203, Institut de Génomique fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
- INSERM, U661, Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier,1,2, Montpellier, France
- * E-mail:
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Zheng C, Sköld MK, Li J, Nennesmo I, Fadeel B, Henter JI. VEGF reduces astrogliosis and preserves neuromuscular junctions in ALS transgenic mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 363:989-93. [PMID: 17923114 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.09.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2007] [Accepted: 09/19/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease resulting from motor neuron loss in the spinal cord and brain stem. In the present study, we found that systemic administration of recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) significantly diminished astrogliosis and increased the number of neuromuscular junctions in a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) transgenic mouse model of ALS. Our results thus demonstrate a novel regulatory role of VEGF on astrocytes and are suggestive of protective effects of VEGF both in the peripheral and central nervous system in the SOD1 transgenic mouse model. These findings warrant further evaluation of the mechanism(s) of regulatory effects of VEGF on neuronal and non-neuronal cells, and the relation of these events to motor neuron degeneration and the onset and progression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyun Zheng
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
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Roy RR, Matsumoto A, Zhong H, Ishihara A, Edgerton VR. Rat alpha- and gamma-motoneuron soma size and succinate dehydrogenase activity are independent of neuromuscular activity level. Muscle Nerve 2007; 36:234-41. [PMID: 17503501 DOI: 10.1002/mus.20810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The chronic level of neuromuscular activity, that is, activation and loading, strongly influences the morphological, metabolic, phenotypic, and physiological properties of skeletal muscles. The effects on the innervating motoneurons, however, are less established. We determined and compared the effects of 30 days of decreased activity (induced by a complete mid-thoracic spinal cord transection, ST) or near inactivity (induced by spinal cord isolation, SI) on the soma size and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of motoneurons innervating a predominantly slow ankle extensor (soleus) and a predominantly fast ankle flexor (tibialis anterior) muscle of adult rats. Soleus and tibialis anterior motoneuron pools were labeled retrogradely using nuclear yellow. The alpha- and gamma-motoneurons were classified based on soma size. Mean number of labeled motoneurons, and mean soma size and SDH activity for both alpha- and gamma-motoneurons were similar in control, ST, and SI rats. Compared to previous reports showing significant decreases in muscle fiber size and adaptations toward a "faster" metabolic profile following ST and SI, the results indicate that, unlike the muscles they innervate, the motoneurons are relatively unresponsive to chronic reductions in neuromuscular activity. The implication of these results is that mean size and SDH activity are independent of the number of action potentials generated by both alpha- and gamma-motoneurons and that even the absence of afferent input to the spinal cord has no influence on size and oxidative metabolic potential of the motoneuron soma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland R Roy
- Brain Research Institute, 1320 Gonda Neuroscience and Genetics Building, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1761, USA.
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Shakiryanova D, Klose MK, Zhou Y, Gu T, Deitcher DL, Atwood HL, Hewes RS, Levitan ES. Presynaptic ryanodine receptor-activated calmodulin kinase II increases vesicle mobility and potentiates neuropeptide release. J Neurosci 2007; 27:7799-806. [PMID: 17634373 PMCID: PMC6672873 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1879-07.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it has been postulated that vesicle mobility is increased to enhance release of transmitters and neuropeptides, the mechanism responsible for increasing vesicle motion in nerve terminals and the effect of perturbing this mobilization on synaptic plasticity are unknown. Here, green fluorescent protein-tagged dense-core vesicles (DCVs) are imaged in Drosophila motor neuron terminals, where DCV mobility is increased for minutes after seconds of activity. Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from presynaptic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is shown to be necessary and sufficient for sustained DCV mobilization. However, this ryanodine receptor (RyR)-mediated effect is short-lived and only initiates signaling. Calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII), which is not activated directly by external Ca2+ influx, then acts as a downstream effector of released ER Ca2+. RyR and CaMKII are essential for post-tetanic potentiation of neuropeptide secretion. Therefore, the presynaptic signaling pathway for increasing DCV mobility is identified and shown to be required for synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinara Shakiryanova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Markus K. Klose
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
| | - Tingting Gu
- Departments of Zoology and Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and
| | - David L. Deitcher
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Harold L. Atwood
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Randall S. Hewes
- Departments of Zoology and Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and
| | - Edwin S. Levitan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
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Lim KH, Poukens V, Demer JL. Fascicular specialization in human and monkey rectus muscles: evidence for anatomic independence of global and orbital layers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007; 48:3089-97. [PMID: 17591878 PMCID: PMC1978188 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.06-0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Connective tissue pulleys inflect the extraocular muscles (EOMs) and receive insertions from some fibers. The authors investigated insertions and anatomic relationships of fiber fascicles within rectus EOMs to clarify the relationship to their pulleys. METHODS Two human and two monkey orbits were removed intact, serially sectioned in the coronal plane, histologically stained, and digitally photographed. The authors traced representative fascicles in the human medial rectus (MR) and inferior rectus and monkey lateral rectus and superior rectus muscles. In the human MR, the authors computed average collagen fractions in the orbital layer (OL) and the global layer (GL). RESULTS In human and monkey, OL fascicles remained distinct from each other and from the GL throughout. Most OL fascicles were inserted into the pulley through short tendons. Most GL fascicles bypassed the pulley without insertion. Collagen content in the human MR OL increased from 29% +/- 5% (SD) in midorbit to 65% +/- 9% in the anterior orbit but slightly decreased from 26% +/- 6% to 23% +/- 1% in the GL. Tracing of every fiber in a human MR OL fascicle demonstrated terminations on pulley tendons without myomyous junctions. CONCLUSIONS Fibers in the primate rectus OL lack myomyous or GL junctions, but nearly all insert on the pulley through a broad distribution of short tendons and dense intercalated collagen. Fibers in the GL generally do not insert on pulley tissues and are associated with less collagen. These features support the distinct role of the OL in anteroposterior positioning of connective tissues proposed in the active pulley hypothesis and substantial mechanical independence of the OL and GL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Key Hwan Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of the Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Ewha Women's University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Vadims Poukens
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Joseph L. Demer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of the Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Bioengineering Interdepartmental Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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Pack-Chung E, Kurshan PT, Dickman DK, Schwarz TL. A Drosophila kinesin required for synaptic bouton formation and synaptic vesicle transport. Nat Neurosci 2007; 10:980-9. [PMID: 17643120 DOI: 10.1038/nn1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2007] [Accepted: 06/07/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The morphological transition of growth cones to synaptic boutons characterizes synaptogenesis. Here we have isolated mutations in immaculate connections (imac; CG8566), a previously uncharacterized Drosophila gene encoding a member of the Kinesin-3 family. Whereas earlier studies in Drosophila implicated Kinesin-1 in transporting synaptic vesicle precursors, we find that Imac is essential for this transport. An unexpected feature of imac mutants is the failure of synaptic boutons to form. Motor neurons lacking imac properly target to muscles but remain within target fields as thin processes, a structure that is distinct from either growth cones or mature terminals. Few active zones form at these endings. We show that the arrest of synaptogenesis is not a secondary consequence of the absence of transmission. Our data thus indicate that Imac transports components required for synaptic maturation and provide insight into presynaptic maturation as a process that can be differentiated from axon outgrowth and targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunju Pack-Chung
- Program in Neurobiology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Svensson A, Libelius R, Tågerud S. Semaphorin 6C expression in innervated and denervated skeletal muscle. J Mol Histol 2007; 39:5-13. [PMID: 17605078 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-007-9113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2007] [Accepted: 06/07/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Semaphorins are secreted or transmembrane proteins important for axonal guidance and for the structuring of neuronal systems. Semaphorin 6C, a transmembrane Semaphorin, has growth cone collapsing activity and is expressed in adult skeletal muscle. In the present study the expression of Semaphorin 6C mRNA and immunoreactivity has been compared in innervated and denervated mouse hind-limb and hemidiaphragm muscles. Microscopic localization of immunoreactivity was studied in innervated and denervated rat skeletal muscle. The results show that Semaphorin 6C mRNA expression and immunoreactivity on Western blots are down-regulated following denervation. The mRNA of Semaphorin 6C as well as immunoreactivity determined by Western blots are expressed in extrasynaptic as well as perisynaptic regions of muscle. Immunohistochemical studies, however, show Semaphorin 6C-like immunoreactivity to be concentrated at neuromuscular junctions. The results suggest a role for Semaphorin 6C in neuromuscular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Svensson
- School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, 391 82, Sweden.
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48
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Kang H, Tian L, Son YJ, Zuo Y, Procaccino D, Love F, Hayworth C, Trachtenberg J, Mikesh M, Sutton L, Ponomareva O, Mignone J, Enikolopov G, Rimer M, Thompson W. Regulation of the intermediate filament protein nestin at rodent neuromuscular junctions by innervation and activity. J Neurosci 2007; 27:5948-57. [PMID: 17537965 PMCID: PMC6672248 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0621-07.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The intermediate filament nestin is localized postsynaptically at rodent neuromuscular junctions. The protein forms a filamentous network beneath and between the synaptic gutters, surrounds myofiber nuclei, and is associated with Z-discs adjacent to the junction. In situ hybridization shows that nestin mRNA is synthesized selectively by synaptic myonuclei. Although weak immunoreactivity is present in myelinating Schwann cells that wrap the preterminal axon, nestin is not detected in the terminal Schwann cells (tSCs) that cover the nerve terminal branches. However, after denervation of muscle, nestin is upregulated in tSCs and in SCs within the nerve distal to the lesion site. In contrast, immunoreactivity is strongly downregulated in the muscle fiber. Transgenic mice in which the nestin neural enhancer drives expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter show that the regulation in SCs is transcriptional. However, the postsynaptic expression occurs through enhancer elements distinct from those responsible for regulation in SCs. Application of botulinum toxin shows that the upregulation in tSCs and the loss of immunoreactivity in muscle fibers occurs with blockade of transmitter release. Extrinsic stimulation of denervated muscle maintains the postsynaptic expression of nestin but does not affect the upregulation in SCs. Thus, a nestin-containing cytoskeleton is promoted in the postsynaptic muscle fiber by nerve-evoked muscle activity but suppressed in tSCs by transmitter release. Nestin antibodies and GFP driven by nestin promoter elements serve as excellent markers for the reactive state of SCs. Vital imaging of GFP shows that SCs grow a dynamic set of processes after denervation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuno Kang
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Le Tian
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Young-Jin Son
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Yi Zuo
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Diane Procaccino
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Flora Love
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Christopher Hayworth
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Joshua Trachtenberg
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Michelle Mikesh
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Lee Sutton
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Olga Ponomareva
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - John Mignone
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | | | - Mendell Rimer
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
| | - Wesley Thompson
- Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neuroscience, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, and
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49
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Abstract
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme that terminates acetylcholine neurotransmitter function at the synaptic cleft of cholinergic synapses. However, the mechanism by which AChE number and density are maintained at the synaptic cleft is poorly understood. In this work, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, photo-unbinding, and quantitative fluorescence imaging to investigate the surface mobility and stability of AChE at the adult innervated neuromuscular junction of living mice. In wild-type synapses, we found that nonsynaptic (perisynaptic and extrasynaptic) AChEs are mobile and gradually recruited into synaptic sites and that most of the trapped AChEs come from the perijunctional pool. Selective labeling of a subset of synaptic AChEs within the synapse by using sequential unbinding and relabeling with different colors of streptavidin followed by time-lapse imaging showed that synaptic AChEs are nearly immobile. At neuromuscular junctions of mice deficient in alpha-dystrobrevin, a component of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex, we found that the density and distribution of synaptic AChEs are profoundly altered and that the loss rate of AChE significantly increased. These results demonstrate that nonsynaptic AChEs are mobile, whereas synaptic AChEs are more stable, and that alpha-dystrobrevin is important for controlling the density and stability of AChEs at neuromuscular synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammed Akaaboune
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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50
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Zhang B, Luo S, Dong XP, Zhang X, Liu C, Luo Z, Xiong WC, Mei L. Beta-catenin regulates acetylcholine receptor clustering in muscle cells through interaction with rapsyn. J Neurosci 2007; 27:3968-73. [PMID: 17428970 PMCID: PMC6672526 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4691-06.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrin is believed to be a factor used by motoneurons to direct acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering at the neuromuscular junction. However, exactly how agrin mediates this effect remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that the beta-catenin interacts with rapsyn, a molecule key for AChR clustering. Agrin stimulation increases the association of beta-catenin with surface AChRs. Suppression of beta-catenin expression inhibited agrin-induced AChR clustering, suggesting a necessary role of beta-catenin in this event. The beta-catenin action did not appear to require the function of T-cell factors (TCFs), suggesting a mechanism independent of TCF-mediated transcription. In contrast, prevention of beta-catenin from interacting with alpha-catenin attenuated agrin-induced AChR clustering. These results suggest that beta-catenin may serve as a link between AChRs and alpha-catenin-associated cytoskeleton, revealing a novel function of beta-catenin in synaptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Shiwen Luo
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Xian-Ping Dong
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Xian Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China, and
| | - Chunming Liu
- Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555
| | - Zhenge Luo
- Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China, and
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Lin Mei
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology and Department of Neurology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912
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