N-Glycosylation Is Essential for Vesicular Targeting of Synaptotagmin 1

Plant‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Emerging Tools for Cancer Therapeutics

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures secreted by cells that play important roles in intercellular communication and material transport. Due to its excellent biocompatibility, lipophilicity, and homing properties, EVs have been used as a new generation of drug delivery systems for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Despite the potential clinical benefits of animal‐derived extracellular vesicles (AEVs), their large‐scale production remains sluggish due to the exorbitant cost of cell culture, challenging quality control measures, and limited production capabilities. This constraint significantly hinders their widespread clinical application. Plant‐derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) share similar functionalities with AEVs, yet they hold several advantages including a wide variety of source materials, cost‐effectiveness, ease of preparation, enhanced safety, more stable physicochemical properties, and notable efficacy. These merits position PEVs as promising contenders with broad potential in the biomedical sector. This review will elucidate the advantages of PEVs, delineating their therapeutic mechanisms in cancer treatment, and explore the prospective applications of engineered PEVs as targeted delivery nano‐system for drugs, microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, and beyond. The aim is to heighten researchers’ focus on PEVs and expedite the progression from fundamental research to the transformation of groundbreaking discoveries.

Secretagogin regulates asynchronous and spontaneous glutamate release in hippocampal neurons through interaction with Doc2α

Synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis is orchestrated by protein machineries consisting of the SNARE complex, Ca2+ sensors, and their partners. Secretagogin (SCGN) is a Ca2+-binding protein involved in multiple forms of vesicle secretion. Although SCGN is implicated in multiple neurological disorders, its role in SV exocytosis in neurons remains unknown. Here, using knockout and knockdown techniques, we report that SCGN could regulate the asynchronous and spontaneous forms of excitatory but not inhibitory SV exocytosis in mouse hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, SCGN functioned in glutamate release via directly interacting with Doc2α, a high-affinity Ca2+ sensor specific for asynchronous and spontaneous SV exocytosis. Conversely, the interaction with SCGN is also required for Doc2α to execute its Ca2+ sensor function in SV release. Together, our study revealed that SCGN plays an important role in asynchronous and spontaneous glutamate release through its interaction with Doc2α.

Synaptic vesicle proteins are selectively delivered to axons in mammalian neurons

Neurotransmitter-filled synaptic vesicles (SVs) mediate synaptic transmission and are a hallmark specialization in neuronal axons. Yet, how SV proteins are sorted to presynaptic nerve terminals remains the subject of debate. The leading model posits that these proteins are randomly trafficked throughout neurons and are selectively retained in presynaptic boutons. Here, we used the RUSH (retention using selective hooks) system, in conjunction with HaloTag labeling approaches, to study the egress of two distinct transmembrane SV proteins, synaptotagmin 1 and synaptobrevin 2, from the soma of mature cultured rat and mouse neurons. For these studies, the SV reporter constructs were expressed at carefully controlled, very low levels. In sharp contrast to the selective retention model, both proteins selectively and specifically entered axons with minimal entry into dendrites. However, even moderate overexpression resulted in the spillover of SV proteins into dendrites, potentially explaining the origin of previous non-polarized transport models, revealing the limited, saturable nature of the direct axonal trafficking pathway. Moreover, we observed that SV constituents were first delivered to the presynaptic plasma membrane before incorporation into SVs. These experiments reveal a new-found membrane trafficking pathway, for SV proteins, in classically polarized mammalian neurons and provide a glimpse at the first steps of SV biogenesis.

In situ spatial glycomic imaging of mouse and human Alzheimer's disease brains

N-linked protein glycosylation in the brain is an understudied facet of glucose utilization that impacts a myriad of cellular processes including resting membrane potential, axon firing, and synaptic vesicle trafficking. Currently, a spatial map of N-linked glycans within the normal and Alzheimer's disease (AD) human brain does not exist. A comprehensive analysis of the spatial N-linked glycome would improve our understanding of brain energy metabolism, linking metabolism to signaling events perturbed during AD progression, and could illuminate new therapeutic strategies. Herein we report an optimized in situ workflow for enzyme-assisted, matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of brain N-linked glycans. Using this workflow, we spatially interrogated N-linked glycan heterogeneity in both mouse and human AD brains and their respective age-matched controls. We identified robust regional-specific N-linked glycan changes associated with AD in mice and humans. These data suggest that N-linked glycan dysregulation could be an underpinning of AD pathologies.

Rebuilding essential active zone functions within a synapse

Presynaptic active zones are molecular machines that control neurotransmitter secretion. They form sites for vesicle docking and priming and couple vesicles to Ca²⁺ entry for release triggering. The complexity of active zone machinery has made it challenging to determine its mechanisms in release. Simultaneous knockout of the active zone proteins RIM and ELKS disrupts active zone assembly, abolishes vesicle docking, and impairs release. We here rebuild docking, priming, and Ca²⁺ secretion coupling in these mutants without reinstating active zone networks. Re-expression of RIM zinc fingers recruited Munc13 to undocked vesicles and rendered the vesicles release competent. Action potential triggering of release was reconstituted by docking these primed vesicles to Ca²⁺ channels through attaching RIM zinc fingers to Ca_Vβ4-subunits. Our work identifies an 80-kDa β4-Zn protein that bypasses the need for megadalton-sized secretory machines, establishes that fusion competence and docking are mechanistically separable, and defines RIM zinc finger-Munc13 complexes as hubs for active zone function.

Phosphoproteome Analysis Identifies a Synaptotagmin-1-Associated Complex Involved in Ischemic Neuron Injury

Cerebral stroke is one of the leading causes of death in adults worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms of stroke-induced neuron injury are not fully understood. Here, we obtained phosphoproteomic and proteomic profiles of the acute ischemic hippocampus by LC–MS/MS analysis. Quantitative phosphoproteomic analyses revealed that the dysregulated phosphoproteins were involved in synaptic components and neurotransmission. We further demonstrated that phosphorylation of Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) at the Thr112 site in cultured hippocampal neurons aggravated oxygen-glucose deprivation–induced neuronal injury. Immature neurons with low expression of Syt1 exhibit slight neuronal injury in a cerebral ischemia model. Administration of the Tat-Syt1^T112A peptide protects neurons against cerebral ischemia-induced injury in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily KQT member 2 (Kcnq2) interacted with Syt1 and Annexin A6 (Anxa6) and alleviated Syt1-mediated neuronal injury upon oxygen-glucose deprivation treatment. These results reveal a mechanism underlying neuronal injury and may provide new targets for neuroprotection after acute cerebral ischemia onset.

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Established the phosphoproteome profiles of acute cerebral ischemic hippocampus.

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Phosphoproteomic profile reveals phosphorylation of Syt1 and Kcnq2, which are upregulated.

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Phosphorylation of Syt1 aggravates neuron injury, which is relieved by Tat-Syt1^T112A.

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Kcnq2 interacts with Syt1 and Anxa6 and alleviates Syt1-mediated neuronal injury.

Synaptotagmin-7-mediated activation of spontaneous NMDAR currents is disrupted in bipolar disorder susceptibility variants

Synaptotagmin-7 (Syt7) plays direct or redundant Ca2+ sensor roles in multiple forms of vesicle exocytosis in synapses. Here, we show that Syt7 is a redundant Ca2+ sensor with Syt1/Doc2 to drive spontaneous glutamate release, which functions uniquely to activate the postsynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDARs that significantly contribute to mental illness. In mouse hippocampal neurons lacking Syt1/Doc2, Syt7 inactivation largely diminishes spontaneous release. Using 2 approaches, including measuring Ca2+ dose response and substituting extracellular Ca2+ with Sr2+, we detect that Syt7 directly triggers spontaneous release via its Ca2+ binding motif to activate GluN2B-NMDARs. Furthermore, modifying the localization of Syt7 in the active zone still allows Syt7 to drive spontaneous release, but the GluN2B-NMDAR activity is abolished. Finally, Syt7 SNPs identified in bipolar disorder patients destroy the function of Syt7 in spontaneous release in patient iPSC-derived and mouse hippocampal neurons. Therefore, Syt7 could contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders through driving spontaneous glutamate release.

Ca2+ sensor proteins in spontaneous release and synaptic plasticity: Limited contribution of Doc2c, rabphilin-3a and synaptotagmin 7 in hippocampal glutamatergic neurons

Presynaptic neurotransmitter release is strictly regulated by SNARE proteins, Ca2+ and a number of Ca2+ sensors including synaptotagmins (Syts) and Double C2 domain proteins (Doc2s). More than seventy years after the original description of spontaneous release, the mechanism that regulates this process is still poorly understood. Syt-1, Syt7 and Doc2 proteins contribute predominantly, but not exclusively, to synchronous, asynchronous and spontaneous phases of release. The proteins share a conserved tandem C2 domain architecture, but are functionally diverse in their subcellular location, Ca2+-binding properties and protein interactions. In absence of Syt-1, Doc2a and -b, neurons still exhibit spontaneous vesicle fusion which remains Ca2+-sensitive, suggesting the existence of additional sensors. Here, we selected Doc2c, rabphilin-3a and Syt-7 as three potential Ca2+ sensors for their sequence homology with Syt-1 and Doc2b. We genetically ablated each candidate gene in absence of Doc2a and -b and investigated spontaneous and evoked release in glutamatergic hippocampal neurons, cultured either in networks or on microglial islands (autapses). The removal of Doc2c had no effect on spontaneous or evoked release. Syt-7 removal also did not affect spontaneous release, although it altered short-term plasticity by accentuating short-term depression. The removal of rabphilin caused an increased spontaneous release frequency in network cultures, an effect that was not observed in autapses. Taken together, we conclude that Doc2c and Syt-7 do not affect spontaneous release of glutamate in hippocampal neurons, while our results suggest a possible regulatory role of rabphilin-3a in neuronal networks. These findings importantly narrow down the repertoire of synaptic Ca2+ sensors that may be implicated in the spontaneous release of glutamate.

Golgi-Dependent Copper Homeostasis Sustains Synaptic Development and Mitochondrial Content

Rare genetic diseases preponderantly affect the nervous system causing neurodegeneration to neurodevelopmental disorders. This is the case for both Menkes and Wilson disease, arising from mutations in ATP7A and ATP7B, respectively. The ATP7A and ATP7B proteins localize to the Golgi and regulate copper homeostasis. We demonstrate genetic and biochemical interactions between ATP7 paralogs with the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, a Golgi apparatus vesicular tether. Disruption of Drosophila copper homeostasis by ATP7 tissue-specific transgenic expression caused alterations in epidermis, aminergic, sensory, and motor neurons. Prominent among neuronal phenotypes was a decreased mitochondrial content at synapses, a phenotype that paralleled with alterations of synaptic morphology, transmission, and plasticity. These neuronal and synaptic phenotypes caused by transgenic expression of ATP7 were rescued by downregulation of COG complex subunits. We conclude that the integrity of Golgi-dependent copper homeostasis mechanisms, requiring ATP7 and COG, are necessary to maintain mitochondria functional integrity and localization to synapses.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Menkes and Wilson disease affect copper homeostasis and characteristically afflict the nervous system. However, their molecular neuropathology mechanisms remain mostly unexplored. We demonstrate that copper homeostasis in neurons is maintained by two factors that localize to the Golgi apparatus, ATP7 and the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex. Disruption of these mechanisms affect mitochondrial function and localization to synapses as well as neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. These findings suggest communication between the Golgi apparatus and mitochondria through homeostatically controlled cellular copper levels and copper-dependent enzymatic activities in both organelles.

Autaptic Cultures: Methods and Applications

Neurons typically form daisy chains of synaptic connections with other neurons, but they can also form synapses with themselves. Although such self-synapses, or autapses, are comparatively rare in vivo, they are surprisingly common in dissociated neuronal cultures. At first glance, autapses in culture seem like a mere curiosity. However, by providing a simple model system in which a single recording electrode gives simultaneous access to the pre- and postsynaptic compartments, autaptic cultures have proven to be invaluable in facilitating important and elegant experiments in the area of synaptic neuroscience. Here, I provide detailed protocols for preparing and recording from autaptic cultures (also called micro-island or microdot cultures). Variations on the basic procedure are presented, as well as practical tips for optimizing the outcomes. I also illustrate the utility of autaptic cultures by reviewing the types of experiments that have used them over the past three decades. These examples serve to highlight the power and elegance of this simple model system, and will hopefully inspire new experiments for the interrogation of synaptic function.

SNARE Complex-Associated Proteins and Alcohol

Alcohol addiction causes major health problems throughout the world, causing numerous deaths and incurring a huge economic burden to society. To develop an intervention for alcohol addiction, it is necessary to identify molecular target(s) of alcohol and associated molecular mechanisms of alcohol action. The functions of many central and peripheral synapses are impacted by low concentrations of ethanol (EtOH). While the postsynaptic targets and mechanisms are studied extensively, there are limited studies on the presynaptic targets and mechanisms. This article is an endeavor in this direction, focusing on the effect of EtOH on the presynaptic proteins associated with the neurotransmitter release machinery. Studies on the effects of EtOH at the levels of gene, protein, and behavior are highlighted in this article.

Synaptotagmin 5 regulates Ca2+-dependent Weibel-Palade body exocytosis in human endothelial cells

Elevations of intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) are a potent trigger for Weibel-Palade body (WPB) exocytosis and secretion of von Willebrand factor (VWF) from endothelial cells; however, the identity of WPB-associated Ca²⁺-sensors involved in transducing acute increases in [Ca²⁺]_i into granule exocytosis remains unknown. Here, we show that synaptotagmin 5 (SYT5) is expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and is recruited to WPBs to regulate Ca²⁺-driven WPB exocytosis. Western blot analysis of HUVECs identified SYT5 protein, and exogenously expressed SYT5-mEGFP localised almost exclusively to WPBs. shRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous SYT5 (shSYT5) reduced the rate and extent of histamine-evoked WPB exocytosis and reduced secretion of the WPB cargo VWF-propeptide (VWFpp). The shSYT5-mediated reduction in histamine-evoked WPB exocytosis was prevented by expression of shRNA-resistant SYT5-mCherry. Overexpression of SYT5-EGFP increased the rate and extent of histamine-evoked WPB exocytosis, and increased secretion of VWFpp. Expression of a Ca²⁺-binding defective SYT5 mutant (SYT5-Asp197Ser-EGFP) mimicked depletion of endogenous SYT5. We identify SYT5 as a WPB-associated Ca²⁺ sensor regulating Ca²⁺-dependent secretion of stored mediators from vascular endothelial cells.

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

At active presynaptic nerve terminals, synaptic vesicles undergo cycles of exo- and endocytosis. During recycling, the luminal domains of SV transmembrane proteins become exposed at the cell surface. One of these proteins is Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1). An antibody directed against the luminal domain of Syt1, once added to the culture medium, is taken up during the exo-endocytotic cycle. This uptake is proportional to the amount of SV recycling and can be quantified through immunofluorescence. Here, we combine Syt1 antibody uptake with double transfection of cultured hippocampal neurons. This allows us to (1) localize presynaptic sites based on expression of recombinant presynaptic marker Synaptophysin, (2) determine their functionality using Syt1 uptake, and (3) characterize the targeting and effects of a protein of interest, GFP-Rogdi.

The high-affinity calcium sensor synaptotagmin-7 serves multiple roles in regulated exocytosis

MacDougall et al. review the structure and function of the calcium sensor synaptotagmin-7 in exocytosis.

Synaptotagmin (Syt) proteins comprise a 17-member family, many of which trigger exocytosis in response to calcium. Historically, most studies have focused on the isoform Syt-1, which serves as the primary calcium sensor in synchronous neurotransmitter release. Recently, Syt-7 has become a topic of broad interest because of its extreme calcium sensitivity and diversity of roles in a wide range of cell types. Here, we review the known and emerging roles of Syt-7 in various contexts and stress the importance of its actions. Unique functions of Syt-7 are discussed in light of recent imaging, electrophysiological, and computational studies. Particular emphasis is placed on Syt-7–dependent regulation of synaptic transmission and neuroendocrine cell secretion. Finally, based on biochemical and structural data, we propose a mechanism to link Syt-7’s role in membrane fusion with its role in subsequent fusion pore expansion via strong calcium-dependent phospholipid binding.

Differential Membrane Binding Mechanics of Synaptotagmin Isoforms Observed in Atomic Detail

Synaptotagmin (Syt) is a membrane-associated protein involved in vesicle fusion through the SNARE complex that is found throughout the human body in 17 different isoforms. These isoforms have two membrane-binding C2 domains, which sense Ca²⁺ and thereby promote anionic membrane binding and lead to vesicle fusion. Through molecular dynamics simulations using the highly mobile membrane mimetic acclerated bilayer model, we have investigated how small protein sequence changes in the Ca²⁺-binding loops of the C2 domains may give rise to the experimentally determined difference in binding kinetics between Syt-1 and Syt-7 isoforms. Syt-7 C2 domains are found to form more close contacts with anionic phospholipid headgroups, particularly in loop 1, where an additional positive charge in Syt-7 draws the loop closer to the membrane and causes the anchoring residue F167 to insert deeper into the bilayer than the corresponding methionine in Syt-1 (M173). By performing additional replica exchange umbrella sampling calculations, we demonstrate that these additional contacts increase the energetic cost of unbinding the Syt-7 C2 domains from the bilayer, causing them to unbind more slowly than their counterparts in Syt-1.

Synaptic vesicle pool-specific modification of neurotransmitter release by intravesicular free radical generation

KEY POINTS

Synaptic transmission is mediated by the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles in response to stimulation or through the spontaneous fusion of a synaptic vesicle with the presynaptic plasma membrane. There is growing evidence that synaptic vesicles undergoing spontaneous fusion versus those fusing in response to stimuli are functionally distinct. In this study, we acutely probe the effects of intravesicular free radical generation on synaptic vesicles that fuse spontaneously or in response to stimuli. By targeting vesicles that preferentially release spontaneously, we can dissociate the effects of intravesicular free radical generation on spontaneous neurotransmission from evoked neurotransmission and vice versa. Taken together, these results further advance our knowledge of the synapse and the nature of the different synaptic vesicle pools mediating neurotransmission.

ABSTRACT

Earlier studies suggest that spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release processes are maintained by synaptic vesicles which are segregated into functionally distinct pools. However, direct interrogation of the link between this putative synaptic vesicle pool heterogeneity and neurotransmission has been difficult. To examine this link, we tagged vesicles with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) - a haem-containing plant enzyme - or antibodies against synaptotagmin-1 (syt1). Filling recycling vesicles in hippocampal neurons with HRP and subsequent treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) modified the properties of neurotransmitter release depending on the route of HRP uptake. While strong depolarization-induced uptake of HRP suppressed evoked release and augmented spontaneous release, HRP uptake during mild activity selectively impaired evoked release, whereas HRP uptake at rest solely potentiated spontaneous release. Expression of a luminal HRP-tagged syt1 construct and subsequent H₂ O₂ application resulted in a similar increase in spontaneous release and suppression as well as desynchronization of evoked release, recapitulating the canonical syt1 loss-of-function phenotype. An antibody targeting the luminal domain of syt1, on the other hand, showed that augmentation of spontaneous release and suppression of evoked release phenotypes are dissociable depending on whether the antibody uptake occurred at rest or during depolarization. Taken together, these findings indicate that vesicles that maintain spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release preserve their identity during recycling and syt1 function in suppression of spontaneous neurotransmission can be acutely dissociated from syt1 function to synchronize synaptic vesicle exocytosis upon stimulation.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Manipulates the Glycosylation Machinery and the N-Glycoproteome of Human Macrophages and Their Microparticles

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a prevalent and lethal infectious disease. The glycobiology associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of frontline alveolar macrophages is still unresolved. Herein, we investigated the regulation of protein N-glycosylation in human macrophages and their secreted microparticles (MPs) used for intercellular communication upon M. tb infection. LC-MS/MS-based proteomics and glycomics were performed to monitor the regulation of glycosylation enzymes and receptors and the N-glycome in in vitro-differentiated macrophages and in isolated MPs upon M. tb infection. Infection promoted a dramatic regulation of the macrophage proteome. Most notably, significant infection-dependent down-regulation (4-26 fold) of 11 lysosomal exoglycosidases, e.g., β-galactosidase, β-hexosaminidases and α-/β-mannosidases, was observed. Relative weak infection-driven transcriptional regulation of these exoglycosidases and a stronger augmentation of the extracellular hexosaminidase activity demonstrated that the lysosome-centric changes may originate predominantly from infection-induced secretion of the lysosomal content. The macrophages showed heterogeneous N-glycan profiles and displayed significant up-regulation of complex-type glycosylation and concomitant down-regulation of paucimannosylation upon infection. Complementary intact N-glycopeptide analysis supported a subcellular-specific manipulation of the glycosylation machinery and altered glycosylation patterns of lysosomal N-glycoproteins within infected macrophages. Interestingly, the corresponding macrophage-derived MPs displayed unique N-glycome and proteome signatures supporting a preferential packaging from plasma membranes. The MPs were devoid of infection-dependent N-glycosylation signatures, but interestingly displayed increased levels of the glyco-initiating oligosaccharyltransferase complex and associated α-glucosidases that correlated with increased formation, N-glycan precursor levels and N-glycan density of infected MPs. In conclusion, this system-wide study provides new insight into the host- and pathogen-driven N-glycoproteome manipulation of macrophages in TB.

The Synaptotagmins: Calcium Sensors for Vesicular Trafficking

The synaptotagmin family of vesicle proteins is believed to mediate calcium-dependent regulation of membrane trafficking. Detailed biochemical and in vivo studies of the most characterized isoform, synaptotagmin 1 (syt 1), have provided compelling evidence that it functions as a calcium sensor for fast neurotransmitter release at synapses. However, the function of the remaining isoforms is unclear, and multiple roles have been hypothesized for several of these. Recent evidence in Drosophila has given insight into the function of some of the remaining synaptotagmin family members. Of the five evolutionarily conserved isoforms in Drosophila, only two, syt 1 and syt 4, localize to most, if not all, synapses. The former is localized to presynaptic terminals, whereas the latter is predominantly postsynaptic. This suggests an intriguing possibility that syt 4 may mediate a postsynaptic vesicle trafficking pathway, providing a molecular basis for an evolutionarily conserved bidirectional vesicular trafficking communication system at synapses.

Only the complex N559-glycan in the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2C mediates high affinity binding to botulinum neurotoxin serotype A1

The extraordinary potency of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) is mediated by their high neurospecificity, targeting peripheral cholinergic motoneurons leading to flaccid paralysis and successive respiratory failure. Complex polysialo gangliosides accumulate BoNTs on the plasma membrane and facilitate subsequent binding to synaptic vesicle membrane proteins which results in toxin endocytosis. The luminal domain 4 (LD4) of the three synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) isoforms A-C mediates uptake of the clinically most relevant serotype BoNT/A1. SV2C-LD4 exhibits the strongest protein-protein interaction and comprises five putative N-glycosylation sites (PNG sites). Here, we expressed human SV2C-LD4 fused to human IgG-Fc in prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems to analyse the effect of N-glycosylation of SV2C on the interaction with BoNT/A1. Mass spectrometric analysis of gSV2CLD-Fc demonstrates glycosylation of N534, N559 and N565, the latter two residing at the BoNT/A interface. Mutational analysis demonstrates that only the N559-glycan, but not N565-glycan increases affinity of BoNT/A for human gSV2C-LD4. The N559-glycan was characterised as a complex core-fucosylated type with a heterogeneity ranging up to tetra-antennary structure with bisecting N-acetylglucosamine which can establish extensive interactions with BoNT/A. The mutant gSV2CLD-Fc N559A displayed a 50-fold increased dissociation rate kd resulting in an overall 12-fold decreased binding affinity in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments. The delayed dissociation might provide BoNT/A more time for endocytosis into synaptic vesicles. In conclusion, we show the importance of the complex N559-glycan of SV2C-LD4, adding a third anchor point beside a ganglioside and the SV2C-LD4 peptide, for BoNT/A neuronal cell surface binding and uptake.

Cloning and expression of hepatic synaptotagmin 1 in mouse

Mouse hepatic synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) cDNA was cloned, characterized and compared to the brain one. The hepatic transcript was 1807 bp in length, smaller than the brain, and only encoded by 9 of 11 gene exons. In this regard, 5'-and 3'-untranslated regions were 66 and 476 bp, respectively; the open reading frame of 1266 bp codified for a protein of 421 amino acids, identical to the brain, with a predicted molecular mass of 47.4 kDa and highly conserved across different species. Immunoblotting of protein showed two isoforms of higher molecular masses than the theoretical prediction based on amino acid sequence suggesting posttranslational modifications. Subcellular distribution of protein isoforms corresponded to plasma membrane, lysosomes and microsomes and was identical between the brain and liver. Nonetheless, the highest molecular weight isoform was smaller in the liver, irrespective of subcellular location. Quantitative mRNA tissue distribution showed that it was widely expressed and that the highest values corresponded to the brain, followed by the liver, spleen, abdominal fat, intestine and skeletal muscle. These findings indicate tissue-specific splicing of the gene and posttranslational modification and the variation in expression in the different tissues might suggest a different requirement of SYT1 for the specific function in each organ.

Axon glycoprotein routing in nerve polarity, function, and repair

Nervous system function relies on the capacity of neurons to organize specialized domains for impulse reception or transmission. Such a polarized architecture relies on highly discriminatory and efficient mechanisms for the transport and targeting of required molecules to their functional positions. Glycans play a central role in polarized traffic based on their extraordinary capacity to encrypt bio-information. Glycan-based interactions exquisitely regulate cargo selection, trafficking, and targeting to the axon membrane. This generates segregated functional domains, where basal nerve processes such as axon growth, synaptic activity, or myelination take place. Deciphering the details of the glycan structures and carbohydrate-binding molecules that underlie these mechanisms improves our knowledge of nerve physiology and defines novel specific approaches for neurological treatments.

BARP suppresses voltage-gated calcium channel activity and Ca2+-evoked exocytosis

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are key regulators of cell signaling and Ca(2+)-dependent release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Understanding the mechanisms that inactivate VGCCs to prevent intracellular Ca(2+) overload and govern their specific subcellular localization is of critical importance. We report the identification and functional characterization of VGCC β-anchoring and -regulatory protein (BARP), a previously uncharacterized integral membrane glycoprotein expressed in neuroendocrine cells and neurons. BARP interacts via two cytosolic domains (I and II) with all Cavβ subunit isoforms, affecting their subcellular localization and suppressing VGCC activity. Domain I interacts at the α1 interaction domain-binding pocket in Cavβ and interferes with the association between Cavβ and Cavα1. In the absence of domain I binding, BARP can form a ternary complex with Cavα1 and Cavβ via domain II. BARP does not affect cell surface expression of Cavα1 but inhibits Ca(2+) channel activity at the plasma membrane, resulting in the inhibition of Ca(2+)-evoked exocytosis. Thus, BARP can modulate the localization of Cavβ and its association with the Cavα1 subunit to negatively regulate VGCC activity.

Synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 trigger synchronous and asynchronous phases of neurotransmitter release

In forebrain neurons, knockout of synaptotagmin-1 blocks fast Ca(2+)-triggered synchronous neurotransmitter release but enables manifestation of slow Ca(2+)-triggered asynchronous release. Here, we show using single-cell PCR that individual hippocampal neurons abundantly coexpress two Ca(2+)-binding synaptotagmin isoforms, synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7. In synaptotagmin-1-deficient synapses of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, loss of function of synaptotagmin-7 suppressed asynchronous release. This phenotype was rescued by wild-type but not mutant synaptotagmin-7 lacking functional Ca(2+)-binding sites. Even in synaptotagmin-1-containing neurons, synaptotagmin-7 ablation partly impaired asynchronous release induced by extended high-frequency stimulus trains. Synaptotagmins bind Ca(2+) via two C2 domains, the C2A and C2B domains. Surprisingly, synaptotagmin-7 function selectively required its C2A domain Ca(2+)-binding sites, whereas synaptotagmin-1 function required its C2B domain Ca(2+)-binding sites. Our data show that nearly all Ca(2+)-triggered release at a synapse is due to synaptotagmins, with synaptotagmin-7 mediating a slower form of Ca(2+)-triggered release that is normally occluded by faster synaptotagmin-1-induced release but becomes manifest upon synaptotagmin-1 deletion.

Role of calcium and EPAC in norepinephrine-induced ghrelin secretion

Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone secreted principally from a distinct population of gastric endocrine cells. Molecular mechanisms regulating ghrelin secretion are mostly unknown. Recently, norepinephrine (NE) was shown to enhance ghrelin release by binding to β1-adrenergic receptors on ghrelin cells. Here, we use an immortalized stomach-derived ghrelin cell line to further characterize the intracellular signaling pathways involved in NE-induced ghrelin secretion, with a focus on the roles of Ca(2+) and cAMP. Several voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (VGCC) family members were found by quantitative PCR to be expressed by ghrelin cells. Nifedipine, a selective L-type VGCC blocker, suppressed both basal and NE-stimulated ghrelin secretion. NE induced elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) levels both in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Ca(2+)-sensing synaptotagmins Syt7 and Syt9 were also highly expressed in ghrelin cell lines, suggesting that they too help mediate ghrelin secretion. Raising cAMP with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine also stimulated ghrelin secretion, although such a cAMP-mediated effect likely does not involve protein kinase A, given the absence of a modulatory response to a highly selective protein kinase A inhibitor. However, pharmacological inhibition of another target of cAMP, exchange protein-activated by cAMP (EPAC), did attenuate both basal and NE-induced ghrelin secretion, whereas an EPAC agonist enhanced basal ghrelin secretion. We conclude that constitutive ghrelin secretion is primarily regulated by Ca(2+) influx through L-type VGCCs and that NE stimulates ghrelin secretion predominantly through release of intracellular Ca(2+). Furthermore, cAMP and its downstream activation of EPAC are required for the normal ghrelin secretory response to NE.

Retinal glycoprotein enrichment by concanavalin a enabled identification of novel membrane autoantigen synaptotagmin-1 in equine recurrent uveitis

Complete knowledge of autoantigen spectra is crucial for understanding pathomechanisms of autoimmune diseases like equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a spontaneous model for human autoimmune uveitis. While several ERU autoantigens were identified previously, no membrane protein was found so far. As there is a great overlap between glycoproteins and membrane proteins, the aim of this study was to test whether pre-enrichment of retinal glycoproteins by ConA affinity is an effective tool to detect autoantigen candidates among membrane proteins. In 1D Western blots, the glycoprotein preparation allowed detection of IgG reactions to low abundant proteins in sera of ERU patients. Synaptotagmin-1, a Ca2+-sensing protein in synaptic vesicles, was identified as autoantigen candidate from the pre-enriched glycoprotein fraction by mass spectrometry and was validated as a highly prevalent autoantigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis of Syt1 expression in retinas of ERU cases showed a downregulation in the majority of ERU affected retinas to 24%. Results pointed to a dysregulation of retinal neurotransmitter release in ERU. Identification of synaptotagmin-1, the first cell membrane associated autoantigen in this spontaneous autoimmune disease, demonstrated that examination of tissue fractions can lead to the discovery of previously undetected novel autoantigens. Further experiments will address its role in ERU pathology.

Developmental expression and subcellular distribution of synaptotagmin 11 in rat hippocampus

Synaptotagmins are required for Ca(2+)-dependent membrane-trafficking in either neuronal synaptic vesicles or cellular membranes. Previous reports suggested that the synaptotagmin 11 (syt11) gene is involved in the development of schizophrenia based on the genomic analysis of patients. Parkin protein binds to the C2 domains of Syt11 which leads to the polyubiquitination of Syt11. However, where and how Syt11 performs its role in the brain is largely unknown. Here, we report that Syt11 is expressed mainly in the brain. In addition, exogenously expressed Syt11 in HEK293 cells can form higher molecular weight complex via its transmembrane domain. Also, Syt11 is targeted to both dendrite and axon compartments. Immunocytochemistry showed that Syt11 is juxtaposed to postsynaptic markers in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Both neuroligin 1 and 2, which are postsynaptic cell adhesion molecules and differentially induce excitatory and inhibitory presynapses, respectively, recruit Syt11 in neuron coculture. Immunogold electron microscopy analysis revealed that Syt11 exists mainly in presynaptic neurotransmitter vesicles and plasma membrane, and rarely in postsynaptic sites. These results suggest that Syt11 may contribute to the regulation of neurotransmitter release in the excitatory and inhibitory presynapses, and postsynapse-targeted membrane trafficking in dendrites.

Glycosylation is dispensable for sorting of synaptotagmin 1 but is critical for targeting of SV2 and synaptophysin to recycling synaptic vesicles

Glycosylation is a major form of post-translational modification of synaptic vesicle membrane proteins. For example, the three major synaptic vesicle glycoproteins, synaptotagmin 1, synaptophysin, and SV2, represent ∼30% of the total copy number of vesicle proteins. Previous studies suggested that glycosylation is required for the vesicular targeting of synaptotagmin 1, but the role of glycosylation of synaptophysin and SV2 has not been explored in detail. In this study, we analyzed all glycosylation sites on synaptotagmin 1, synaptophysin, and SV2A via mutagenesis and optical imaging of pHluorin-tagged proteins in cultured neurons from knock-out mice lacking each protein. Surprisingly, these experiments revealed that glycosylation is completely dispensable for the sorting of synaptotagmin 1 to SVs whereas the N-glycans on SV2A are only partially dispensable. In contrast, N-glycan addition is essential for the synaptic localization and function of synaptophysin. Thus, glycosylation plays distinct roles in the trafficking of each of the three major synaptic vesicle glycoproteins.

Calcium control of neurotransmitter release

Upon entering a presynaptic terminal, an action potential opens Ca(2+) channels, and transiently increases the local Ca(2+) concentration at the presynaptic active zone. Ca(2+) then triggers neurotransmitter release within a few hundred microseconds by activating synaptotagmins Ca(2+). Synaptotagmins bind Ca(2+) via two C2-domains, and transduce the Ca(2+) signal into a nanomechanical activation of the membrane fusion machinery; this activation is mediated by the Ca(2+)-dependent interaction of the synaptotagmin C2-domains with phospholipids and SNARE proteins. In triggering exocytosis, synaptotagmins do not act alone, but require an obligatory cofactor called complexin, a small protein that binds to SNARE complexes and simultaneously activates and clamps the SNARE complexes, thereby positioning the SNARE complexes for subsequent synaptotagmin action. The conserved function of synaptotagmins and complexins operates generally in most, if not all, Ca(2+)-regulated forms of exocytosis throughout the body in addition to synaptic vesicle exocytosis, including in the degranulation of mast cells, acrosome exocytosis in sperm cells, hormone secretion from endocrine cells, and neuropeptide release.

Calcium sensing in exocytosis

Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and hormones are released through regulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and large dense core vesicles. This complex and highly regulated process is orchestrated by SNAREs and their associated proteins. The triggering signal for regulated exocytosis is usually an increase in intracellular calcium levels. Besides the triggering role, calcium signaling modulates the precise amount and kinetics of vesicle release. Thus, it is a central question to understand the molecular machineries responsible for calcium sensing in exocytosis. Here we provide an overview of our current understanding of calcium sensing in neurotransmitter release and hormone secretion.

Increased lipolysis and energy expenditure in a mouse model with severely impaired glucagon secretion

Background

Secretion of insulin and glucagon is triggered by elevated intracellular calcium levels. Although the precise mechanism by which the calcium signal is coupled to insulin and glucagon granule exocytosis is unclear, synaptotagmin-7 has been shown to be a positive regulator of calcium-dependent insulin and glucagon secretion, and may function as a calcium sensor for insulin and glucagon granule exocytosis. Deletion of synaptotagmin-7 leads to impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and nearly abolished Ca²⁺-dependent glucagon secretion in mice. Under non-stressed resting state, however, synaptotagmin-7 KO mice exhibit normal insulin level but severely reduced glucagon level.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied energy expenditure and metabolism in synaptotagmin-7 KO and control mice using indirect calorimetry and biochemical techniques. Synaptotagmin-7 KO mice had lower body weight and body fat content, and exhibited higher oxygen consumption and basal metabolic rate. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was lower in synaptotagmin-7 KO mice, suggesting an increased use of lipid in their energy production. Consistent with lower RER, gene expression profiles suggest enhanced lipolysis and increased capacity for fatty acid transport and oxidation in synaptotagmin-7 KO mice. Furthermore, expression of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in skeletal muscle was approximately doubled in the KO mice compared with control mice.

Conclusions

These results show that the lean phenotype in synaptotagmin-7 KO mice was mostly attributed to increased lipolysis and energy expenditure, and suggest that reduced glucagon level may have broad influence on the overall metabolism in the mouse model.

Post-translational modifications and lipid binding profile of insect cell-expressed full-length mammalian synaptotagmin 1

Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is a Ca(2+) sensor for SNARE-mediated, Ca(2+)-triggered synaptic vesicle fusion in neurons. It is composed of luminal, transmembrane, linker, and two Ca(2+)-binding (C2) domains. Here we describe expression and purification of full-length mammalian Syt1 in insect cells along with an extensive biochemical characterization of the purified protein. The expressed and purified protein is properly folded and has increased α-helical content compared to the C2AB fragment alone. Post-translational modifications of Syt1 were analyzed by mass spectrometry, revealing the same modifications of Syt1 that were previously described for Syt1 purified from brain extract or mammalian cell lines, along with a novel modification of Syt1, tyrosine nitration. A lipid binding screen with both full-length Syt1 and the C2AB fragments of Syt1 and Syt3 isoforms revealed new Syt1-lipid interactions. These results suggest a conserved lipid binding mechanism in which Ca(2+)-independent interactions are mediated via a lysine rich region of the C2B domain while Ca(2+)-dependent interactions are mediated via the Ca(2+)-binding loops.

Synaptic dysfunction in progranulin-deficient mice

Progranulin haploinsufficiency is a common cause of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but the role of progranulin in the brain is poorly understood. To investigate the role of murine progranulin (Grn) in the CNS in vivo, we generated mice targeted at the progranulin locus (Grn) using a gene-trap vector. Constitutive progranulin knockout mice (GrnKO) show moderate abnormalities in anxiety-related behaviors, social interactions, motor coordination, and novel object recognition at 8months of age, many of which differ between males and females. Analysis of synaptic transmission in 10-12 month old GrnKO male mice indicates altered synaptic connectivity and impaired synaptic plasticity. Additionally, apical dendrites in pyramidal cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in GrnKO males display an altered morphology and have significantly decreased spine density compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The observed changes in behavior, synaptic transmission, and neuronal morphology in GrnKO mice occur prior to neuropathological abnormalities, most of which are apparent at 18 but not at 8 months of age. We conclude that progranulin deficiency leads to reduced synaptic connectivity and impaired plasticity, which may contribute to FTD pathology in human patients.

Double anchorage to the membrane and intact inter-chain disulfide bond are required for the low pH induced entry of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins into neurons

Tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins are di-chain proteins that cause paralysis by inhibiting neuroexocytosis. These neurotoxins enter into nerve terminals via endocytosis inside synaptic vesicles, whose acidic pH induces a structural change of the neurotoxin molecule that becomes capable of translocating its L chain into the cytosol, via a transmembrane protein-conducting channel made by the H chain. This is the least understood step of the intoxication process primarily because it takes place inside vesicles within the cytosol. In the present study, we describe how this passage was made accessible to investigation by making it to occur at the surface of neurons. The neurotoxin, bound to the plasma membrane in the cold, was exposed to a warm low pH extracellular medium and the entry of the L chain was monitored by measuring its specific metalloprotease activity with a ratiometric method. We found that the neurotoxin has to be bound to the membrane via at least two anchorage sites in order for a productive low-pH induced structural change to take place. In addition, this process can only occur if the single inter-chain disulfide bond is intact. The pH dependence of the conformational change of tetanus neurotoxin and botulinum neurotoxin B, C and D is similar and take places in the same slightly acidic range, which comprises that present inside synaptic vesicles. Based on these and previous findings, we propose a stepwise sequence of molecular events that lead from toxin binding to membrane insertion.

Alcohol induces synaptotagmin 1 expression in neurons via activation of heat shock factor 1

Many synapses within the central nervous system are sensitive to ethanol. Although alcohol is known to affect the probability of neurotransmitter release in specific brain regions, the effects of alcohol on the underlying synaptic vesicle fusion machinery have been little studied. To identify a potential pathway by which ethanol can regulate neurotransmitter release, we investigated the effects of acute alcohol exposure (1-24 h) on the expression of the gene encoding synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1), a synaptic protein that binds calcium to directly trigger vesicle fusion. Syt1 was identified in a microarray screen as a gene that may be sensitive to alcohol and heat shock. We found that Syt1 mRNA and protein expression are rapidly and robustly up-regulated by ethanol in mouse cortical neurons, and that the distribution of Syt1 protein along neuronal processes is also altered. Syt1 mRNA up-regulation is dependent on the activation of the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). The transfection of a constitutively active Hsf1 construct into neurons stimulates Syt1 transcription, while transfection of Hsf1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or a constitutively inactive Hsf1 construct into neurons attenuates the induction of Syt1 by ethanol. This suggests that the activation of HSF1 can induce Syt1 expression and that this may be a mechanism by which alcohol regulates neurotransmitter release during brief exposures. Further analysis revealed that a subset of the genes encoding the core synaptic vesicle fusion (soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptor; SNARE) proteins share this property of induction by ethanol, suggesting that alcohol may trigger a specific coordinated adaptation in synaptic function. This molecular mechanism could explain some of the changes in synaptic function that occur following alcohol administration and may be an important step in the process of neuronal adaptation to alcohol.

N-glycosylation controls trafficking, zymogen activation and substrate processing of proprotein convertases PC1/3 and subtilisin kexin isozyme-1

The limited proteolysis of proteins by the proprotein convertases (PCs) is a common means of producing bioactive proteins or peptides. The PCs are associated with numerous human pathologies and their activity can be reduced through the use of specific inhibitors. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach to inhibiting PCs by altering their N-glycosylation. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we show that the convertase PC1/3 contains two N-glycans, only one of which is critical for its prosegment cleavage. The exact structure of PC1/3 N-glycans does not significantly affect its zymogen activation within endocrine cells, but glycosylation of Asn(146) is critical. Processing of the PC1/3's substrate proopiomelanocortin (POMC) was used in a cell-based assay to screen a collection of 45 compounds structurally related to known glycosidase inhibitors. Two 5-thiomannose-containing disaccharide derivatives were discovered to block PC1/3 and POMC processing into the analgesic peptide β-endorphin. These compounds also reduced the zymogen activation of the convertase subtilisin kexin isozyme-1 (SKI-1), blocked the processing of its substrate the sterol regulatory element-binding protein SREBP-2 and altered its glycosylation. Thus, modification of PC glycosylation may also be a means of blocking their activity, an effect which, in the case of SKI-1, may be of possible therapeutic use since SREBP-2 regulates sterol levels including cholesterol biosynthesis and its metabolism.

Palmitoylation-dependent association with CD63 targets the Ca2+ sensor synaptotagmin VII to lysosomes

Posttranslational lipid modifications promote association of Syt VII with the tetraspanin CD63, determining its exit from the Golgi and targeting to lysosomes.

Syt VII is a Ca²⁺ sensor that regulates lysosome exocytosis and plasma membrane repair. Because it lacks motifs that mediate lysosomal targeting, it is unclear how Syt VII traffics to these organelles. In this paper, we show that mutations or inhibitors that abolish palmitoylation disrupt Syt VII targeting to lysosomes, causing its retention in the Golgi complex. In macrophages, Syt VII is translocated simultaneously with the lysosomal tetraspanin CD63 from tubular lysosomes to nascent phagosomes in a Ca²⁺-dependent process that facilitates particle uptake. Mutations in Syt VII palmitoylation sites block trafficking of Syt VII, but not CD63, to lysosomes and phagosomes, whereas tyrosine replacement in the lysosomal targeting motif of CD63 causes both proteins to accumulate on the plasma membrane. Complexes of CD63 and Syt VII are detected only when Syt VII palmitoylation sites are intact. These findings identify palmitoylation-dependent association with the tetraspanin CD63 as the mechanism by which Syt VII is targeted to lysosomes.

Protein trafficking in immune cells

The majority of cells of the immune system are specialized secretory cells, whose function depends on regulated exocytosis. The latter is mediated by vesicular transport involving the sorting of specialized cargo into the secretory granules (SGs), thereby generating the transport vesicles; their transport along the microtubules and eventually their signal-dependent fusion with the plasma membrane. Each of these steps is tightly controlled by mechanisms, which involve the participation of specific sorting signals on the cargo proteins and their recognition by cognate adaptor proteins, posttranslational modifications of the cargo proteins and multiple GTPases and SNARE proteins. In some of the cells (i.e. mast cells, T killer cells) an intimate connection exists between the secretory system and the endocytic one, whereby the SGs are lysosome related organelles (LROs) also referred to as secretory lysosomes. Herein, we discuss these mechanisms in health and disease states.

Structural and mutational analysis of functional differentiation between synaptotagmins-1 and -7

Synaptotagmins are known to mediate diverse forms of Ca²⁺-triggered exocytosis through their C₂ domains, but the principles underlying functional differentiation among them are unclear. Synaptotagmin-1 functions as a Ca²⁺ sensor in neurotransmitter release at central nervous system synapses, but synaptotagmin-7 does not, and yet both isoforms act as Ca²⁺ sensors in chromaffin cells. To shed light into this apparent paradox, we have performed rescue experiments in neurons from synaptotagmin-1 knockout mice using a chimera that contains the synaptotagmin-1 sequence with its C₂B domain replaced by the synaptotagmin-7 C₂B domain (Syt1/7). Rescue was not achieved either with the WT Syt1/7 chimera or with nine mutants where residues that are distinct in synaptotagmin-7 were restored to those present in synaptotagmin-1. To investigate whether these results arise because of unique conformational features of the synaptotagmin-7 C₂B domain, we determined its crystal structure at 1.44 Å resolution. The synaptotagmin-7 C₂B domain structure is very similar to that of the synaptotagmin-1 C₂B domain and contains three Ca²⁺-binding sites. Two of the Ca²⁺-binding sites of the synaptotagmin-7 C₂B domain are also present in the synaptotagmin-1 C₂B domain and have analogous ligands to those determined for the latter by NMR spectroscopy, suggesting that a discrepancy observed in a crystal structure of the synaptotagmin-1 C₂B domain arose from crystal contacts. Overall, our results suggest that functional differentiation in synaptotagmins arises in part from subtle sequence changes that yield dramatic functional differences.

Research progress on the age-related changes in proteins of the synaptic active zone

Neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission is mediated by the presynaptic active zone. Multiple protein components at the active zone region interact to regulate docking, priming and fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane to maintain normal neurotransmitter release. This review discusses research progress in questions of protein transcript and expression pattern changes at the synaptic active zone related to aging and whether these changes have the effects on learning and memory. We will specifically address normal synaptic structure and proteins; active zone structure and components; active zone functional regulation and age-related changes in active zone proteins.

Piccolo and bassoon maintain synaptic vesicle clustering without directly participating in vesicle exocytosis

Piccolo and bassoon are highly homologous multidomain proteins of the presynaptic cytomatrix whose function is unclear. Here, we generated piccolo knockin/knockout mice that either contain wild-type levels of mutant piccolo unable to bind Ca(2+) (knockin), approximately 60% decreased levels of piccolo that is C-terminally truncated (partial knockout), or <5% levels of piccolo (knockout). All piccolo mutant mice were viable and fertile, but piccolo knockout mice exhibited increased postnatal mortality. Unexpectedly, electrophysiology and electron microscopy of piccolo-deficient synapses failed to uncover a major phenotype either in acute hippocampal slices or in cultured cortical neurons. To unmask potentially redundant functions of piccolo and bassoon, we thus acutely knocked down expression of bassoon in wild-type and piccolo knockout neurons. Despite a nearly complete loss of piccolo and bassoon, however, we still did not detect an electrophysiological phenotype in cultured piccolo- and bassoon-deficient neurons in either GABAergic or glutamatergic synaptic transmission. In contrast, electron microscopy revealed a significant reduction in synaptic vesicle clustering in double bassoon/piccolo-deficient synapses. Thus, we propose that piccolo and bassoon play a redundant role in synaptic vesicle clustering in nerve terminals without directly participating in neurotransmitter release.

A manual collection of Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2, and Dblc2 genes from 46 metazoan genomes--an open access resource for neuroscience and evolutionary biology

BACKGROUND

Synaptotagmin proteins were first identified in nervous tissue, residing in synaptic vesicles. Synaptotagmins were subsequently found to form a large family, some members of which play important roles in calcium triggered exocytic events. These members have been investigated intensively, but other family members are not well understood, making it difficult to grasp the meaning of family membership in functional terms. Further difficulty arises as families are defined quite legitimately in different ways: by common descent or by common possession of distinguishing features. One definition does not necessarily imply the other. The evolutionary range of genome sequences now available, can shed more light on synaptotagmin gene phylogeny and clarify family relationships. The aim of compiling this open access collection of synaptotagmin and synaptotagmin-like sequences, is that its use may lead to greater understanding of the biological function of these proteins in an evolutionary context.

RESULTS

46 metazoan genomes were examined and their complement of Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2 and Dblc2 genes identified. All of the sequences were compared, named, then examined in detail. Esyt genes were formerly named Fam62. The species in this collection are Trichoplax, Nematostella, Capitella, Helobdella, Lottia, Ciona, Strongylocentrotus, Branchiostoma, Ixodes, Daphnia, Acyrthosiphon, Tribolium, Nasonia, Apis, Anopheles, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis, Takifugu, Tetraodon, Gasterosteus, Oryzias, Danio, Xenopus, Anolis, Gallus, Taeniopygia,Ornithorhynchus, Monodelphis, Mus and Homo. All of the data described in this paper is available as additional files.

CONCLUSIONS

Only a subset of synaptotagmin proteins appear able to function as calcium triggers. Syt1, Syt7 and Syt9 are ancient conserved synaptotagmins of this type. Some animals carry extensive repertoires of synaptotagmin genes. Other animals of no less complexity, carry only a small repertoire. Current understanding does not explain why this is so. The biological roles of many synaptotagmins remain to be understood. This collection of genes offers prospects for fruitful speculation about the functional roles of the synaptotagmin repertoires of different animals and includes a great range of biological complexity. With reference to this gene collection, functional relationships among Syt, Esyt, Rph3a, Rph3al, Doc2 and Dblc2 genes, which encode similar proteins, can better be assessed in future.

Silence of Synaptotagmin VII inhibits release of dense core vesicles in PC12 cells

Synaptotagmin VII (Syt VII), which has a higher Ca(2+) affinity and slower disassembly kinetics with lipid than Syt I and Syt IX, was regarded as being uninvolved in synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis but instead possibly as a calcium sensor for the slower kinetic phase of dense core vesicles (DCVs) release. By using high temporal resolution capacitance and amperometry measurements, it was demonstrated that the knockdown of endogenous Syt VII attenuated the fusion of DCV with the plasma membrane, reduced the amplitude of the exocytotic burst of the Ca(2+)-triggered DCV release without affecting the slope of the sustained component, and blocked the fusion pore expansion. This suggests that Syt VII is the Ca(2+) sensor of DCV fusion machinery and is an essential factor for the establishment and maintenance of the pool size of releasable DCVs in PC12 cells.

Synaptotagmin-1 functions as a Ca2+ sensor for spontaneous release

Spontaneous ‘mini’ release occurs at all synapses, but its nature remains enigmatic. Here, we show that in murine cortical neurons, >95% of spontaneous release is induced by Ca²⁺-binding to synaptotagmin-1, the Ca²⁺-sensor for fast synchronous neurotransmitter release. Thus, spontaneous and evoked release use the same Ca²⁺-dependent release mechanism. As a consequence, synaptotagmin-1 mutations that alter its Ca²⁺-affinity alter spontaneous and evoked release correspondingly. Paradoxically, synaptotagmin-1 deletions (as opposed to point mutations) massively increase spontaneous release. This increased spontaneous release remains Ca²⁺-dependent, but is activated at lower Ca²⁺-concentrations, and with a lower Ca²⁺-cooperativity, than synaptotagmin-driven spontaneous release. Thus, in addition to serving as Ca²⁺-sensor for spontaneous and evoked release, synaptotagmin-1 clamps a second, more sensitive Ca²⁺-sensor for spontaneous release which resembles the Ca²⁺-sensor for evoked asynchronous release. Viewed together, these data suggest that synaptotagmin-1 controls both evoked and spontaneous release at a synapse as a simultaneous Ca²⁺-dependent activator and clamp of exocytosis.

Calcium-sensing beyond neurotransmitters: functions of synaptotagmins in neuroendocrine and endocrine secretion

Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and hormones are released through the regulated exocytosis of SVs (synaptic vesicles) and LDCVs (large dense-core vesicles), a process that is controlled by calcium. Synaptotagmins are a family of type 1 membrane proteins that share a common domain structure. Most synaptotagmins are located in brain and endocrine cells, and some of these synaptotagmins bind to phospholipids and calcium at levels that trigger regulated exocytosis of SVs and LDCVs. This led to the proposed synaptotagmin-calcium-sensor paradigm, that is, members of the synaptotagmin family function as calcium sensors for the regulated exocytosis of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and hormones. Here, we provide an overview of the synaptotagmin family, and review the recent mouse genetic studies aimed at understanding the functions of synaptotagmins in neurotransmission and endocrine-hormone secretion. Also, we discuss potential roles of synaptotagmins in non-traditional endocrine systems.

Synaptotagmin has an essential function in synaptic vesicle positioning for synchronous release in addition to its role as a calcium sensor

A multitude of synaptic proteins interact at the active zones of nerve terminals to achieve the high temporal precision of neurotransmitter release in synchrony with action potentials. Though synaptotagmin has been recognized as the Ca2+ sensor for synchronous release, it may have additional roles of action. We address this question at the calyx of Held, a giant presynaptic terminal, that allows biophysical dissection of multiple roles of molecules in synaptic transmission. Using high-level expression recombinant adenoviruses, in conjunction with a stereotactic surgery in postnatal day 1 rats, we overcame the previous inability to molecular perturb the calyx by overexpression of a mutated synaptotagmin. We report that this mutation leaves intrinsic Ca2+ sensitivity of vesicles intact while it destabilizes the readily releasable pool of vesicles and loosens the tight coupling between Ca2+ influx and release, most likely by interfering with the correct positioning of vesicles with respect to Ca2+ channels.

Stall encodes an ADAMTS metalloprotease and interacts genetically with Delta in Drosophila ovarian follicle formation

Ovarian follicle formation in Drosophila melanogaster requires stall (stl) gene function, both within and outside the ovary, for follicle individualization, stalk cell intercalation, and oocyte localization. We have identified the stl transcript as CG3622 and confirmed the presence of three alternatively spliced isoforms, contrary to current genome annotation. Here we show that the gene is expressed in both ovarian and brain tissues, which is consistent with previous evidence of an ovary nonautonomous function. On the basis of amino acid sequence, stl encodes a metalloprotease similar to the "a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin" (ADAMTS) family. Although stl mutant ovaries fail to maintain the branched structure of the fusome and periodically show improperly localized oocytes, stl mutants do not alter oocyte determination. Within the ovary, stl is expressed in pupal basal stalks and in adult somatic cells of the posterior germarium and the follicular poles. Genetically, stl exhibits a strong mutant interaction with Delta (Dl), and Dl mutant ovaries show altered stl expression patterns. Additionally, a previously described genetic interactor, daughterless, also modulates stl expression in the somatic ovary and may do so directly in its capacity as a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor. We propose a complex model of long-range extraovarian signaling through secretion or extracellular domain shedding, together with local intraovarian protein modification, to explain the dual sites of Stl metalloprotease function in oogenesis.

Identification of the plasticity-relevant fucose-alpha(1-2)-galactose proteome from the mouse olfactory bulb

Fucose-alpha(1-2)-galactose [Fucalpha(1-2)Gal] sugars have been implicated in the molecular mechanisms that underlie neuronal development, learning, and memory. However, an understanding of their precise roles has been hampered by a lack of information regarding Fucalpha(1-2)Gal glycoproteins. Here, we report the first proteomic studies of this plasticity-relevant epitope. We identify five classes of putative Fucalpha(1-2)Gal glycoproteins: cell adhesion molecules, ion channels and solute carriers/transporters, ATP-binding proteins, synaptic vesicle-associated proteins, and mitochondrial proteins. In addition, we show that Fucalpha(1-2)Gal glycoproteins are enriched in the developing mouse olfactory bulb (OB) and exhibit a distinct spatiotemporal expression that is consistent with the presence of a "glycocode" to help direct olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) axonal pathfinding. We find that expression of Fucalpha(1-2)Gal sugars in the OB is regulated by the alpha(1-2)fucosyltransferase FUT1. FUT1-deficient mice exhibit developmental defects, including fewer and smaller glomeruli and a thinner olfactory nerve layer, suggesting that fucosylation contributes to OB development. Our findings significantly expand the number of Fucalpha(1-2)Gal glycoproteins and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which fucosyl sugars contribute to neuronal processes.