1
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Willemse SW, Harley P, van Eijk RPA, Demaegd KC, Zelina P, Pasterkamp RJ, van Damme P, Ingre C, van Rheenen W, Veldink JH, Kiernan MC, Al-Chalabi A, van den Berg LH, Fratta P, van Es MA. UNC13A in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: from genetic association to therapeutic target. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2023; 94:649-656. [PMID: 36737245 PMCID: PMC10359588 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options and an incompletely understood pathophysiology. Although genomewide association studies (GWAS) have advanced our understanding of the disease, the precise manner in which risk polymorphisms contribute to disease pathogenesis remains unclear. Of relevance, GWAS have shown that a polymorphism (rs12608932) in the UNC13A gene is associated with risk for both ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Homozygosity for the C-allele at rs12608932 modifies the ALS phenotype, as these patients are more likely to have bulbar-onset disease, cognitive impairment and FTD at baseline as well as shorter survival. UNC13A is expressed in neuronal tissue and is involved in maintaining synaptic active zones, by enabling the priming and docking of synaptic vesicles. In the absence of functional TDP-43, risk variants in UNC13A lead to the inclusion of a cryptic exon in UNC13A messenger RNA, subsequently leading to nonsense mediated decay, with loss of functional protein. Depletion of UNC13A leads to impaired neurotransmission. Recent discoveries have identified UNC13A as a potential target for therapy development in ALS, with a confirmatory trial with lithium carbonate in UNC13A cases now underway and future approaches with antisense oligonucleotides currently under consideration. Considering UNC13A is a potent phenotypic modifier, it may also impact clinical trial outcomes. This present review describes the path from the initial discovery of UNC13A as a risk gene in ALS to the current therapeutic options being explored and how knowledge of its distinct phenotype needs to be taken into account in future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean W Willemse
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Harley
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Ruben P A van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Biostatistics & Research Support, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Koen C Demaegd
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pavol Zelina
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Philip van Damme
- Department of Neurology, KU Leuven Hospital, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Bushell Chair of Neurology, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pietro Fratta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Michael A van Es
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Jusyte M, Blaum N, Böhme MA, Berns MMM, Bonard AE, Vámosi ÁB, Pushpalatha KV, Kobbersmed JRL, Walter AM. Unc13A dynamically stabilizes vesicle priming at synaptic release sites for short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112541. [PMID: 37243591 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Presynaptic plasticity adjusts neurotransmitter (NT) liberation. Short-term facilitation (STF) tunes synapses to millisecond repetitive activation, while presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP) of NT release stabilizes transmission over minutes. Despite different timescales of STF and PHP, our analysis of Drosophila neuromuscular junctions reveals functional overlap and shared molecular dependence on the release-site protein Unc13A. Mutating Unc13A's calmodulin binding domain (CaM-domain) increases baseline transmission while blocking STF and PHP. Mathematical modeling suggests that Ca2+/calmodulin/Unc13A interaction plastically stabilizes vesicle priming at release sites and that CaM-domain mutation causes constitutive stabilization, thereby blocking plasticity. Labeling the functionally essential Unc13A MUN domain reveals higher STED microscopy signals closer to release sites following CaM-domain mutation. Acute phorbol ester treatment similarly enhances NT release and blocks STF/PHP in synapses expressing wild-type Unc13A, while CaM-domain mutation occludes this, indicating common downstream effects. Thus, Unc13A regulatory domains integrate signals across timescales to switch release-site participation for synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meida Jusyte
- Molecular and Theoretical Neuroscience, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalie Blaum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathias A Böhme
- Molecular and Theoretical Neuroscience, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany; Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manon M M Berns
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alix E Bonard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ábel B Vámosi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Janus R L Kobbersmed
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alexander M Walter
- Molecular and Theoretical Neuroscience, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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3
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Papantoniou C, Laugks U, Betzin J, Capitanio C, Ferrero JJ, Sánchez-Prieto J, Schoch S, Brose N, Baumeister W, Cooper BH, Imig C, Lučić V. Munc13- and SNAP25-dependent molecular bridges play a key role in synaptic vesicle priming. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf6222. [PMID: 37343100 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf6222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic vesicle tethering, priming, and neurotransmitter release require a coordinated action of multiple protein complexes. While physiological experiments, interaction data, and structural studies of purified systems were essential for our understanding of the function of the individual complexes involved, they cannot resolve how the actions of individual complexes integrate. We used cryo-electron tomography to simultaneously image multiple presynaptic protein complexes and lipids at molecular resolution in their native composition, conformation, and environment. Our detailed morphological characterization suggests that sequential synaptic vesicle states precede neurotransmitter release, where Munc13-comprising bridges localize vesicles <10 nanometers and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein 25-comprising bridges <5 nanometers from the plasma membrane, the latter constituting a molecularly primed state. Munc13 activation supports the transition to the primed state via vesicle bridges to plasma membrane (tethers), while protein kinase C promotes the same transition by reducing vesicle interlinking. These findings exemplify a cellular function performed by an extended assembly comprising multiple molecularly diverse complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Papantoniou
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ulrike Laugks
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Julia Betzin
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cristina Capitanio
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - José Javier Ferrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Sánchez-Prieto
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Susanne Schoch
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumeister
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vladan Lučić
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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Wu S, Fan J, Tang F, Chen L, Zhang X, Xiao D, Li X. The role of RIM in neurotransmitter release: promotion of synaptic vesicle docking, priming, and fusion. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1123561. [PMID: 37179554 PMCID: PMC10169678 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1123561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
There are many special sites at the end of a synapse called active zones (AZs). Synaptic vesicles (SVs) fuse with presynaptic membranes at these sites, and this fusion is an important step in neurotransmitter release. The cytomatrix in the active zone (CAZ) is made up of proteins such as the regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis protein (RIM), RIM-binding proteins (RIM-BPs), ELKS/CAST, Bassoon/Piccolo, Liprin-α, and Munc13-1. RIM is a scaffold protein that interacts with CAZ proteins and presynaptic functional components to affect the docking, priming, and fusion of SVs. RIM is believed to play an important role in regulating the release of neurotransmitters (NTs). In addition, abnormal expression of RIM has been detected in many diseases, such as retinal diseases, Asperger's syndrome (AS), and degenerative scoliosis. Therefore, we believe that studying the molecular structure of RIM and its role in neurotransmitter release will help to clarify the molecular mechanism of neurotransmitter release and identify targets for the diagnosis and treatment of the aforementioned diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wu
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiali Fan
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Fajuan Tang
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongqiong Xiao
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xihong Li
- Emergency Department, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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5
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Mueller BD, Merrill SA, Watanabe S, Liu P, Niu L, Singh A, Maldonado-Catala P, Cherry A, Rich MS, Silva M, Maricq AV, Wang ZW, Jorgensen EM. CaV1 and CaV2 calcium channels mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles. eLife 2023; 12:e81407. [PMID: 36820519 PMCID: PMC10023163 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of voltage-gated calcium channels at presynaptic terminals leads to local increases in calcium and the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitter. Presynaptic output is a function of the density of calcium channels, the dynamic properties of the channel, the distance to docked vesicles, and the release probability at the docking site. We demonstrate that at Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junctions two different classes of voltage-gated calcium channels, CaV2 and CaV1, mediate the release of distinct pools of synaptic vesicles. CaV2 channels are concentrated in densely packed clusters ~250 nm in diameter with the active zone proteins Neurexin, α-Liprin, SYDE, ELKS/CAST, RIM-BP, α-Catulin, and MAGI1. CaV2 channels are colocalized with the priming protein UNC-13L and mediate the fusion of vesicles docked within 33 nm of the dense projection. CaV2 activity is amplified by ryanodine receptor release of calcium from internal stores, triggering fusion up to 165 nm from the dense projection. By contrast, CaV1 channels are dispersed in the synaptic varicosity, and are colocalized with UNC-13S. CaV1 and ryanodine receptors are separated by just 40 nm, and vesicle fusion mediated by CaV1 is completely dependent on the ryanodine receptor. Distinct synaptic vesicle pools, released by different calcium channels, could be used to tune the speed, voltage-dependence, and quantal content of neurotransmitter release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Mueller
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Sean A Merrill
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Shigeki Watanabe
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Longgang Niu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Anish Singh
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | - Alex Cherry
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Matthew S Rich
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Malan Silva
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | - Zhao-Wen Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical SchoolFarmingtonUnited States
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
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6
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Palfreyman MT, West SE, Jorgensen EM. SNARE Proteins in Synaptic Vesicle Fusion. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 33:63-118. [PMID: 37615864 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are stored in small membrane-bound vesicles at synapses; a subset of synaptic vesicles is docked at release sites. Fusion of docked vesicles with the plasma membrane releases neurotransmitters. Membrane fusion at synapses, as well as all trafficking steps of the secretory pathway, is mediated by SNARE proteins. The SNAREs are the minimal fusion machinery. They zipper from N-termini to membrane-anchored C-termini to form a 4-helix bundle that forces the apposed membranes to fuse. At synapses, the SNAREs comprise a single helix from syntaxin and synaptobrevin; SNAP-25 contributes the other two helices to complete the bundle. Unc13 mediates synaptic vesicle docking and converts syntaxin into the permissive "open" configuration. The SM protein, Unc18, is required to initiate and proofread SNARE assembly. The SNAREs are then held in a half-zippered state by synaptotagmin and complexin. Calcium removes the synaptotagmin and complexin block, and the SNAREs drive vesicle fusion. After fusion, NSF and alpha-SNAP unwind the SNAREs and thereby recharge the system for further rounds of fusion. In this chapter, we will describe the discovery of the SNAREs, their relevant structural features, models for their function, and the central role of Unc18. In addition, we will touch upon the regulation of SNARE complex formation by Unc13, complexin, and synaptotagmin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Palfreyman
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sam E West
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- School of Biological Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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7
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de Carvalho M. Advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research in 2022. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:21-22. [PMID: 36517160 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mamede de Carvalho
- Institute of Physiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Egas Moniz Study Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1648-028, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Lisbon North University Hospital Center, Lisbon, Portugal.
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8
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Tan C, de Nola G, Qiao C, Imig C, Born RT, Brose N, Kaeser PS. Munc13 supports fusogenicity of non-docked vesicles at synapses with disrupted active zones. eLife 2022; 11:79077. [PMID: 36398873 PMCID: PMC9822248 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Active zones consist of protein scaffolds that are tightly attached to the presynaptic plasma membrane. They dock and prime synaptic vesicles, couple them to voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and direct neurotransmitter release toward postsynaptic receptor domains. Simultaneous RIM + ELKS ablation disrupts these scaffolds, abolishes vesicle docking, and removes active zone-targeted Munc13, but some vesicles remain releasable. To assess whether this enduring vesicular fusogenicity is mediated by non-active zone-anchored Munc13 or is Munc13-independent, we ablated Munc13-1 and Munc13-2 in addition to RIM + ELKS in mouse hippocampal neurons. The hextuple knockout synapses lacked docked vesicles, but other ultrastructural features were near-normal despite the strong genetic manipulation. Removing Munc13 in addition to RIM + ELKS impaired action potential-evoked vesicle fusion more strongly than RIM + ELKS knockout by further decreasing the releasable vesicle pool. Hence, Munc13 can support some fusogenicity without RIM and ELKS, and presynaptic recruitment of Munc13, even without active zone anchoring, suffices to generate some fusion-competent vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Giovanni de Nola
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Claire Qiao
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Richard T Born
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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9
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Vesicular release probability sets the strength of individual Schaffer collateral synapses. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6126. [PMID: 36253353 PMCID: PMC9576736 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33565-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Information processing in the brain is controlled by quantal release of neurotransmitters, a tightly regulated process. From ultrastructural analysis, it is known that presynaptic boutons along single axons differ in the number of vesicles docked at the active zone. It is not clear whether the probability of these vesicles to get released (pves) is homogenous or also varies between individual boutons. Here, we optically measure evoked transmitter release at individual Schaffer collateral synapses at different calcium concentrations, using the genetically encoded glutamate sensor iGluSnFR. Fitting a binomial model to measured response amplitude distributions allowed us to extract the quantal parameters N, pves, and q. We find that Schaffer collateral boutons typically release single vesicles under low pves conditions and switch to multivesicular release in high calcium saline. The potency of individual boutons is highly correlated with their vesicular release probability while the number of releasable vesicles affects synaptic output only under high pves conditions.
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10
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Tan C, Wang SSH, de Nola G, Kaeser PS. Rebuilding essential active zone functions within a synapse. Neuron 2022; 110:1498-1515.e8. [PMID: 35176221 PMCID: PMC9081183 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Presynaptic active zones are molecular machines that control neurotransmitter secretion. They form sites for vesicle docking and priming and couple vesicles to Ca2+ entry for release triggering. The complexity of active zone machinery has made it challenging to determine its mechanisms in release. Simultaneous knockout of the active zone proteins RIM and ELKS disrupts active zone assembly, abolishes vesicle docking, and impairs release. We here rebuild docking, priming, and Ca2+ secretion coupling in these mutants without reinstating active zone networks. Re-expression of RIM zinc fingers recruited Munc13 to undocked vesicles and rendered the vesicles release competent. Action potential triggering of release was reconstituted by docking these primed vesicles to Ca2+ channels through attaching RIM zinc fingers to CaVβ4-subunits. Our work identifies an 80-kDa β4-Zn protein that bypasses the need for megadalton-sized secretory machines, establishes that fusion competence and docking are mechanistically separable, and defines RIM zinc finger-Munc13 complexes as hubs for active zone function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shan Shan H Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Giovanni de Nola
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Takikawa K, Nishimune H. Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020179. [PMID: 35204679 PMCID: PMC8961632 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission is essential for controlling motor functions and maintaining brain functions such as walking, breathing, cognition, learning, and memory. Neurotransmitter release is regulated by presynaptic molecules assembled in active zones of presynaptic terminals. The size of presynaptic terminals varies, but the size of a single active zone and the types of presynaptic molecules are highly conserved among neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and central synapses. Three parameters play an important role in the determination of neurotransmitter release properties at NMJs and central excitatory/inhibitory synapses: the number of presynaptic molecular clusters, the protein families of the presynaptic molecules, and the distance between presynaptic molecules and voltage-gated calcium channels. In addition, dysfunction of presynaptic molecules causes clinical symptoms such as motor and cognitive decline in patients with various neurological disorders and during aging. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the functional similarities and differences between excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and summarizes recent findings regarding presynaptic molecules assembled in the active zone. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between functional alterations of presynaptic molecules and dysfunction of NMJs or central synapses in diseases and during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Takikawa
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan;
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3964-3241
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12
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Banerjee A, Imig C, Balakrishnan K, Kershberg L, Lipstein N, Uronen RL, Wang J, Cai X, Benseler F, Rhee JS, Cooper BH, Liu C, Wojcik SM, Brose N, Kaeser PS. Molecular and functional architecture of striatal dopamine release sites. Neuron 2022; 110:248-265.e9. [PMID: 34767769 PMCID: PMC8859508 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of dopamine for striatal circuit function, mechanistic understanding of dopamine transmission remains incomplete. We recently showed that dopamine secretion relies on the presynaptic scaffolding protein RIM, indicating that it occurs at active zone-like sites similar to classical synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Here, we establish using a systematic gene knockout approach that Munc13 and Liprin-α, active zone proteins for vesicle priming and release site organization, are important for dopamine secretion. Furthermore, RIM zinc finger and C2B domains, which bind to Munc13 and Liprin-α, respectively, are needed to restore dopamine release after RIM ablation. In contrast, and different from typical synapses, the active zone scaffolds RIM-BP and ELKS, and RIM domains that bind to them, are expendable. Hence, dopamine release necessitates priming and release site scaffolding by RIM, Munc13, and Liprin-α, but other active zone proteins are dispensable. Our work establishes that efficient release site architecture mediates fast dopamine exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Lauren Kershberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Riikka-Liisa Uronen
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jiexin Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xintong Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fritz Benseler
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jeong Seop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Changliang Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sonja M Wojcik
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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13
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Hilton BJ, Husch A, Schaffran B, Lin TC, Burnside ER, Dupraz S, Schelski M, Kim J, Müller JA, Schoch S, Imig C, Brose N, Bradke F. An active vesicle priming machinery suppresses axon regeneration upon adult CNS injury. Neuron 2022; 110:51-69.e7. [PMID: 34706221 PMCID: PMC8730507 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Neurons lose their capacity to regenerate during development, but the intracellular processes underlying this loss are unclear. We found that critical components of the presynaptic active zone prevent axon regeneration in adult mice. Transcriptomic analysis combined with live-cell imaging revealed that adult primary sensory neurons downregulate molecular constituents of the synapse as they acquire the ability to rapidly grow their axons. Pharmacogenetic reduction of neuronal excitability stimulated axon regeneration after adult spinal cord injury. Genetic gain- and loss-of-function experiments uncovered that essential synaptic vesicle priming proteins of the presynaptic active zone, but not clostridial-toxin-sensitive VAMP-family SNARE proteins, inhibit axon regeneration. Systemic administration of Baclofen reduced voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx in primary sensory neurons and promoted their regeneration after spinal cord injury. These findings indicate that functional presynaptic active zones constitute a major barrier to axon regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Hilton
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Husch
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Barbara Schaffran
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tien-Chen Lin
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Emily R Burnside
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dupraz
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Max Schelski
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jisoo Kim
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Center for Brain Science, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Susanne Schoch
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Bradke
- Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/99, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
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14
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Chakrabarti R, Jaime Tobón LM, Slitin L, Redondo Canales M, Hoch G, Slashcheva M, Fritsch E, Bodensiek K, Özçete ÖD, Gültas M, Michanski S, Opazo F, Neef J, Pangrsic T, Moser T, Wichmann C. Optogenetics and electron tomography for structure-function analysis of cochlear ribbon synapses. eLife 2022; 11:79494. [PMID: 36562477 PMCID: PMC9908081 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribbon synapses of cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) are specialized to indefatigably transmit sound information at high rates. To understand the underlying mechanisms, structure-function analysis of the active zone (AZ) of these synapses is essential. Previous electron microscopy studies of synaptic vesicle (SV) dynamics at the IHC AZ used potassium stimulation, which limited the temporal resolution to minutes. Here, we established optogenetic IHC stimulation followed by quick freezing within milliseconds and electron tomography to study the ultrastructure of functional synapse states with good temporal resolution in mice. We characterized optogenetic IHC stimulation by patch-clamp recordings from IHCs and postsynaptic boutons revealing robust IHC depolarization and neurotransmitter release. Ultrastructurally, the number of docked SVs increased upon short (17-25 ms) and long (48-76 ms) light stimulation paradigms. We did not observe enlarged SVs or other morphological correlates of homotypic fusion events. Our results indicate a rapid recruitment of SVs to the docked state upon stimulation and suggest that univesicular release prevails as the quantal mechanism of exocytosis at IHC ribbon synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituparna Chakrabarti
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany
| | - Lina María Jaime Tobón
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Loujin Slitin
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany
| | - Magdalena Redondo Canales
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany
| | - Gerhard Hoch
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Marina Slashcheva
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neuroscience and Molecular Biosciences, University of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Elisabeth Fritsch
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neuroscience and Molecular Biosciences, University of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Kai Bodensiek
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Özge Demet Özçete
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Mehmet Gültas
- Faculty of Agriculture, South Westphalia University of Applied SciencesSoestGermany
| | - Susann Michanski
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany
| | - Felipe Opazo
- Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,NanoTag Biotechnologies GmbHGöttingenGermany,Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Tina Pangrsic
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany,Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable CellsGöttingenGermany,Synaptic Physiology of Mammalian Vestibular Hair Cells Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany,Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable CellsGöttingenGermany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing"GöttingenGermany,Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable CellsGöttingenGermany
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15
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Lipstein N, Chang S, Lin KH, López-Murcia FJ, Neher E, Taschenberger H, Brose N. Munc13-1 is a Ca 2+-phospholipid-dependent vesicle priming hub that shapes synaptic short-term plasticity and enables sustained neurotransmission. Neuron 2021; 109:3980-4000.e7. [PMID: 34706220 PMCID: PMC8691950 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
During ongoing presynaptic action potential (AP) firing, transmitter release is limited by the availability of release-ready synaptic vesicles (SVs). The rate of SV recruitment (SVR) to release sites is strongly upregulated at high AP frequencies to balance SV consumption. We show that Munc13-1-an essential SV priming protein-regulates SVR via a Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent mechanism. Using knockin mouse lines with point mutations in the Ca2+-phospholipid-binding C2B domain of Munc13-1, we demonstrate that abolishing Ca2+-phospholipid binding increases synaptic depression, slows recovery of synaptic strength after SV pool depletion, and reduces temporal fidelity of synaptic transmission, while increased Ca2+-phospholipid binding has the opposite effects. Thus, Ca2+-phospholipid binding to the Munc13-1-C2B domain accelerates SVR, reduces short-term synaptic depression, and increases the endurance and temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, demonstrating that Munc13-1 is a core vesicle priming hub that adjusts SV re-supply to demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shuwen Chang
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kun-Han Lin
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Erwin Neher
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Taschenberger
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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16
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Fan F, Wu Y, Hara M, Rizk A, Ji C, Nerad D, Tamarina N, Lou X. Dynamin deficiency causes insulin secretion failure and hyperglycemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021764118. [PMID: 34362840 PMCID: PMC8364113 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021764118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic β cells operate with a high rate of membrane recycling for insulin secretion, yet endocytosis in these cells is not fully understood. We investigate this process in mature mouse β cells by genetically deleting dynamin GTPase, the membrane fission machinery essential for clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Unexpectedly, the mice lacking all three dynamin genes (DNM1, DNM2, DNM3) in their β cells are viable, and their β cells still contain numerous insulin granules. Endocytosis in these β cells is severely impaired, resulting in abnormal endocytic intermediates on the plasma membrane. Although insulin granules are abundant, their release upon glucose stimulation is blunted in both the first and second phases, leading to hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in mice. Dynamin triple deletion impairs insulin granule exocytosis and decreases intracellular Ca2+ responses and granule docking. The docking defect is correlated with reduced expression of Munc13-1 and RIM1 and reorganization of cortical F-actin in β cells. Collectively, these findings uncover the role of dynamin in dense-core vesicle endocytosis and secretory capacity. Insulin secretion deficiency in the absence of dynamin-mediated endocytosis highlights the risk of impaired membrane trafficking in endocrine failure and diabetes pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fan
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Yumei Wu
- HHMI, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Manami Hara
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Adam Rizk
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Chen Ji
- Synapses and Circuits section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Dan Nerad
- Emergency Medicine, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, TX 76544
| | - Natalia Tamarina
- Department of Medicine, The Kovler Diabetes Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Xuelin Lou
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226;
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17
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Silva M, Tran V, Marty A. Calcium-dependent docking of synaptic vesicles. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:579-592. [PMID: 34049722 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The concentration of calcium ions in presynaptic terminals regulates transmitter release, but underlying mechanisms have remained unclear. Here we review recent studies that shed new light on this issue. Fast-freezing electron microscopy and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy studies reveal complex calcium-dependent vesicle movements including docking on a millisecond time scale. Recordings from so-called 'simple synapses' indicate that calcium not only triggers exocytosis, but also modifies synaptic strength by controlling a final, rapid vesicle maturation step before release. Molecular studies identify several calcium-sensitive domains on Munc13 and on synaptotagmin-1 that are likely involved in bringing the vesicular and plasma membranes closer together in response to calcium elevation. Together, these results suggest that calcium-dependent vesicle docking occurs in a wide range of time domains and plays a crucial role in several phenomena including synaptic facilitation, post-tetanic potentiation, and neuromodulator-induced potentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Silva
- Université de Paris, SPPIN-Saints Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Van Tran
- Université de Paris, SPPIN-Saints Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Alain Marty
- Université de Paris, SPPIN-Saints Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France.
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18
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A Trio of Active Zone Proteins Comprised of RIM-BPs, RIMs, and Munc13s Governs Neurotransmitter Release. Cell Rep 2021; 32:107960. [PMID: 32755572 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
At the presynaptic active zone, action-potential-triggered neurotransmitter release requires that fusion-competent synaptic vesicles are placed next to Ca2+ channels. The active zone resident proteins RIM, RBP, and Munc13 are essential contributors for vesicle priming and Ca2+-channel recruitment. Although the individual contributions of these scaffolds have been extensively studied, their respective functions in neurotransmission are still incompletely understood. Here, we analyze the functional interactions of RIMs, RBPs, and Munc13s at the genetic, molecular, functional, and ultrastructural levels in a mammalian synapse. We find that RBP, together with Munc13, promotes vesicle priming at the expense of RBP's role in recruiting presynaptic Ca2+ channels, suggesting that the support of RBP for vesicle priming and Ca2+-secretion coupling is mutually exclusive. Our results demonstrate that the functional interaction of RIM, RBP, and Munc13 is more profound than previously envisioned, acting as a functional trio that govern basic and short-term plasticity properties of neurotransmission.
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19
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Maus L, Lee C, Altas B, Sertel SM, Weyand K, Rizzoli SO, Rhee J, Brose N, Imig C, Cooper BH. Ultrastructural Correlates of Presynaptic Functional Heterogeneity in Hippocampal Synapses. Cell Rep 2021; 30:3632-3643.e8. [PMID: 32187536 PMCID: PMC7090384 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.02.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although similar in molecular composition, synapses can exhibit strikingly distinct functional transmitter release and plasticity characteristics. To determine whether ultrastructural differences co-define this functional heterogeneity, we combine hippocampal organotypic slice cultures, high-pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and 3D-electron tomography to compare two functionally distinct synapses: hippocampal Schaffer collateral and mossy fiber synapses. We find that mossy fiber synapses, which exhibit a lower release probability and stronger short-term facilitation than Schaffer collateral synapses, harbor lower numbers of docked synaptic vesicles at active zones and a second pool of possibly tethered vesicles in their vicinity. Our data indicate that differences in the ratio of docked versus tethered vesicles at active zones contribute to distinct functional characteristics of synapses. Electron tomography enables the dissection of vesicle pools at synaptic active zones Docked and primed vesicle availability contributes to initial release probability The ratio of docked and tethered vesicles may co-determine short-term plasticity Hippocampal mossy fibers contain three morphological types of docked vesicles
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Maus
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Georg August University, School of Science, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - ChoongKu Lee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bekir Altas
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sinem M Sertel
- Institute for Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Weyand
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silvio O Rizzoli
- Institute for Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - JeongSeop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
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20
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Tawfik B, Martins JS, Houy S, Imig C, Pinheiro PS, Wojcik SM, Brose N, Cooper BH, Sørensen JB. Synaptotagmin-7 places dense-core vesicles at the cell membrane to promote Munc13-2- and Ca 2+-dependent priming. eLife 2021; 10:64527. [PMID: 33749593 PMCID: PMC8012061 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptotagmins confer calcium-dependence to the exocytosis of secretory vesicles, but how coexpressed synaptotagmins interact remains unclear. We find that synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 when present alone act as standalone fast and slow Ca2+-sensors for vesicle fusion in mouse chromaffin cells. When present together, synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 are found in largely non-overlapping clusters on dense-core vesicles. Synaptotagmin-7 stimulates Ca2+-dependent vesicle priming and inhibits depriming, and it promotes ubMunc13-2- and phorbolester-dependent priming, especially at low resting calcium concentrations. The priming effect of synaptotagmin-7 increases the number of vesicles fusing via synaptotagmin-1, while negatively affecting their fusion speed, indicating both synergistic and competitive interactions between synaptotagmins. Synaptotagmin-7 places vesicles in close membrane apposition (<6 nm); without it, vesicles accumulate out of reach of the fusion complex (20-40 nm). We suggest that a synaptotagmin-7-dependent movement toward the membrane is involved in Munc13-2/phorbolester/Ca2+-dependent priming as a prelude to fast and slow exocytosis triggering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassam Tawfik
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joana S Martins
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sébastien Houy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paulo S Pinheiro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sonja M Wojcik
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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21
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Hintze A, Gültas M, Semmelhack EA, Wichmann C. Ultrastructural maturation of the endbulb of Held active zones comparing wild-type and otoferlin-deficient mice. iScience 2021; 24:102282. [PMID: 33851098 PMCID: PMC8022229 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endbulbs of Held are located in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and present the first central synapses of the auditory pathway. During development, endbulbs mature functionally to enable rapid and powerful synaptic transmission with high temporal precision. This process is accompanied by morphological changes of endbulb terminals. Loss of the hair cell-specific protein otoferlin (Otof) abolishes neurotransmission in the cochlea and results in the smaller endbulb of Held terminals. Thus, peripheral hearing impairment likely also leads to alterations in the morphological synaptic vesicle (SV) pool size at individual endbulb of Held active zones (AZs). Here, we investigated endbulb AZs in pre-hearing, young, and adult wild-type and Otof−/− mice. During maturation, SV numbers at endbulb AZs increased in wild-type mice but were found to be reduced in Otof−/− mice. The SV population at a distance of 0–15 nm was most strongly affected. Finally, overall SV diameters decreased in Otof−/− animals during maturation. Maturation of wt endbulb of Held active zones leads to more synaptic vesicles At endbulbs of otoferlin knockout mice, synaptic vesicles decline with age Mainly two distinct synaptic vesicle populations are affected Synaptic vesicles sizes are reduced in six-month-old otoferlin knockout animals
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Hintze
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 1286, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mehmet Gültas
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Esther A Semmelhack
- Developmental, Neural, and Behavioral Biology MSc/PhD Program, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 1286, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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22
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Imig C, López-Murcia FJ, Maus L, García-Plaza IH, Mortensen LS, Schwark M, Schwarze V, Angibaud J, Nägerl UV, Taschenberger H, Brose N, Cooper BH. Ultrastructural Imaging of Activity-Dependent Synaptic Membrane-Trafficking Events in Cultured Brain Slices. Neuron 2020; 108:843-860.e8. [PMID: 32991831 PMCID: PMC7736621 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Electron microscopy can resolve synapse ultrastructure with nanometer precision, but the capture of time-resolved, activity-dependent synaptic membrane-trafficking events has remained challenging, particularly in functionally distinct synapses in a tissue context. We present a method that combines optogenetic stimulation-coupled cryofixation ("flash-and-freeze") and electron microscopy to visualize membrane trafficking events and synapse-state-specific changes in presynaptic vesicle organization with high spatiotemporal resolution in synapses of cultured mouse brain tissue. With our experimental workflow, electrophysiological and "flash-and-freeze" electron microscopy experiments can be performed under identical conditions in artificial cerebrospinal fluid alone, without the addition of external cryoprotectants, which are otherwise needed to allow adequate tissue preservation upon freezing. Using this approach, we reveal depletion of docked vesicles and resolve compensatory membrane recycling events at individual presynaptic active zones at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses upon sustained stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Francisco José López-Murcia
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lydia Maus
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Georg August University School of Science, Georg August University Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inés Hojas García-Plaza
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena Sünke Mortensen
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Manuela Schwark
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valentin Schwarze
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julie Angibaud
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - U Valentin Nägerl
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Holger Taschenberger
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
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23
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Disentangling the Roles of RIM and Munc13 in Synaptic Vesicle Localization and Neurotransmission. J Neurosci 2020; 40:9372-9385. [PMID: 33139401 PMCID: PMC7724145 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1922-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal requires docking of synaptic vesicles to the active zone membrane and formation of fusion-competent synaptic vesicles near voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Rab3-interacting molecule (RIM) is a critical active zone organizer, as it recruits Ca2+ channels and activates synaptic vesicle docking and priming via Munc13-1. However, our knowledge about Munc13-independent contributions of RIM to active zone functions is limited. To identify the functions that are solely mediated by RIM, we used genetic manipulations to control RIM and Munc13-1 activity in cultured hippocampal neurons from mice of either sex and compared synaptic ultrastructure and neurotransmission. We found that RIM modulates synaptic vesicle localization in the proximity of the active zone membrane independent of Munc13-1. In another step, both RIM and Munc13 mediate synaptic vesicle docking and priming. In addition, while the activity of both RIM and Munc13-1 is required for Ca2+-evoked release, RIM uniquely controls neurotransmitter release efficiency. However, activity-dependent augmentation of synaptic vesicle pool size relies exclusively on the action of Munc13s. Based on our results, we extend previous findings and propose a refined model in which RIM and Munc13-1 act in overlapping and independent stages of synaptic vesicle localization and release. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The presynaptic active zone is composed of scaffolding proteins that functionally interact to localize synaptic vesicles to release sites, ensuring neurotransmission. Our current knowledge of the presynaptic active zone function relies on structure-function analysis, which has provided detailed information on the network of interactions and the impact of active zone proteins. Yet, the hierarchical, redundant, or independent cooperation of each active zone protein to synapse functions is not fully understood. Rab3-interacting molecule and Munc13 are the two key functionally interacting active zone proteins. Here, we dissected the distinct actions of Rab3-interacting molecule and Munc13-1 from both ultrastructural and physiological aspects. Our findings provide a more detailed view of how these two presynaptic proteins orchestrate their functions to achieve synaptic transmission.
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24
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Melland H, Carr EM, Gordon SL. Disorders of synaptic vesicle fusion machinery. J Neurochem 2020; 157:130-164. [PMID: 32916768 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The revolution in genetic technology has ushered in a new age for our understanding of the underlying causes of neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders, revealing that the presynaptic machinery governing synaptic vesicle fusion is compromised in many of these neurological disorders. This builds upon decades of research showing that disturbance to neurotransmitter release via toxins can cause acute neurological dysfunction. In this review, we focus on disorders of synaptic vesicle fusion caused either by toxic insult to the presynapse or alterations to genes encoding the key proteins that control and regulate fusion: the SNARE proteins (synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25), Munc18, Munc13, synaptotagmin, complexin, CSPα, α-synuclein, PRRT2 and tomosyn. We discuss the roles of these proteins and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning neurological deficits in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Melland
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Elysa M Carr
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Sarah L Gordon
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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25
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Bowers MR, Reist NE. Synaptotagmin: Mechanisms of an electrostatic switch. Neurosci Lett 2020; 722:134834. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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26
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Moser T, Grabner CP, Schmitz F. Sensory Processing at Ribbon Synapses in the Retina and the Cochlea. Physiol Rev 2020; 100:103-144. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00026.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, sensory neuroscientists have made major efforts to dissect the structure and function of ribbon synapses which process sensory information in the eye and ear. This review aims to summarize our current understanding of two key aspects of ribbon synapses: 1) their mechanisms of exocytosis and endocytosis and 2) their molecular anatomy and physiology. Our comparison of ribbon synapses in the cochlea and the retina reveals convergent signaling mechanisms, as well as divergent strategies in different sensory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; and Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Chad P. Grabner
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; and Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; and Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
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27
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Wesseling JF, Phan S, Bushong EA, Siksou L, Marty S, Pérez-Otaño I, Ellisman M. Sparse force-bearing bridges between neighboring synaptic vesicles. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:3263-3276. [PMID: 31667576 PMCID: PMC6875159 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01966-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Most vesicles in the interior of synaptic terminals are clustered in clouds close to active zone regions of the plasma membrane where exocytosis occurs. Electron-dense structures, termed bridges, have been reported between a small minority of pairs of neighboring vesicles within the clouds. Synapsin proteins have been implicated previously, but the existence of the bridges as stable structures in vivo has been questioned. Here we use electron tomography to show that the bridges are present but less frequent in synapsin knockouts compared to wildtype. An analysis of distances between neighbors in wildtype tomograms indicated that the bridges are strong enough to resist centrifugal forces likely induced by fixation with aldehydes. The results confirm that the bridges are stable structures and that synapsin proteins are involved in formation or stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Wesseling
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Spain. .,Departmento de Neurociencias (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Sébastien Phan
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eric A Bushong
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Léa Siksou
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, INSERM, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Global Research and Development, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Netanya, Israel
| | - Serge Marty
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, INSERM, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, INSERM U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | | | - Mark Ellisman
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research and Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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28
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Jung JH. Synaptic Vesicles Having Large Contact Areas with the Presynaptic Membrane are Preferentially Hemifused at Active Zones of Frog Neuromuscular Junctions Fixed during Synaptic Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112692. [PMID: 31159267 PMCID: PMC6600287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic vesicles dock on the presynaptic plasma membrane of axon terminals and become ready to fuse with the presynaptic membrane or primed. Fusion of the vesicle membrane and presynaptic membrane results in the formation of a pore between the membranes, through which the vesicle’s neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft. A recent electron tomography study on frog neuromuscular junctions fixed at rest showed that there is no discernible gap between or merging of the membrane of docked synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, however, the extent of the contact area between the membrane of docked synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membrane varies 10-fold with a normal distribution. The study also showed that when the neuromuscular junctions are fixed during repetitive electrical nerve stimulation, the portion of large contact areas in the distribution is reduced compared to the portion of small contact areas, suggesting that docked synaptic vesicles with the largest contact areas are greatly primed to fuse with the membrane. Furthermore, the finding of several hemifused synaptic vesicles among the docked vesicles was briefly reported. Here, the spatial relationship of 81 synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane at active zones of the neuromuscular junctions fixed during stimulation is described in detail. For the most of the vesicles, the combined thickness of each of their contact sites was not different from the sum of the membrane thicknesses of the vesicle membrane and presynaptic membrane, similar to the docked vesicles at active zones of the resting neuromuscular junctions. However, the combined membrane thickness of a small portion of the vesicles was considerably less than the sum of the membrane thicknesses, indicating that the membranes at their contact sites were fixed in a state of hemifusion. Moreover, the hemifused vesicles were found to have large contact areas with the presynaptic membrane. These findings support the recently proposed hypothesis that, at frog neuromuscular junctions, docked synaptic vesicles with the largest contact areas are most primed for fusion with the presynaptic membrane, and that hemifusion is a fusion intermediate step of the vesicle membrane with the presynaptic membrane for synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hoon Jung
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
- Department of Physics, Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, CA 94309, USA.
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29
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Chakrabarti R, Wichmann C. Nanomachinery Organizing Release at Neuronal and Ribbon Synapses. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2147. [PMID: 31052288 PMCID: PMC6539712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A critical aim in neuroscience is to obtain a comprehensive view of how regulated neurotransmission is achieved. Our current understanding of synapses relies mainly on data from electrophysiological recordings, imaging, and molecular biology. Based on these methodologies, proteins involved in a synaptic vesicle (SV) formation, mobility, and fusion at the active zone (AZ) membrane have been identified. In the last decade, electron tomography (ET) combined with a rapid freezing immobilization of neuronal samples opened a window for understanding the structural machinery with the highest spatial resolution in situ. ET provides significant insights into the molecular architecture of the AZ and the organelles within the presynaptic nerve terminal. The specialized sensory ribbon synapses exhibit a distinct architecture from neuronal synapses due to the presence of the electron-dense synaptic ribbon. However, both synapse types share the filamentous structures, also commonly termed as tethers that are proposed to contribute to different steps of SV recruitment and exocytosis. In this review, we discuss the emerging views on the role of filamentous structures in SV exocytosis gained from ultrastructural studies of excitatory, mainly central neuronal compared to ribbon-type synapses with a focus on inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses. Moreover, we will speculate on the molecular entities that may be involved in filament formation and hence play a crucial role in the SV cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituparna Chakrabarti
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing", 37099 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing", 37099 Göttingen, Germany.
- Collaborative Research Center 1286 "Quantitative Synaptology", 37099 Göttingen, Germany.
- Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
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30
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Zuber B, Lučić V. Molecular architecture of the presynaptic terminal. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 54:129-138. [PMID: 30925443 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminal is one of the fundamental processes in neuronal communication. It is a complex process comprising signaling pathways that exert a precise spatio-temporal coordination to prepare and bring synaptic vesicles to exocytosis. While many molecular components involved have been identified, their direct observation at different stages of the neurotransmitter release is lacking. Three-dimensional imaging by electron tomography provided remarkable views of the synaptic vesicles and the cytomatrix. Imaging fully hydrated, vitrified samples allowed a direct visualization, precise localization and a quantitative characterization of pleomorphic synaptic vesicle-bound complexes in situ, as well as the elucidation of their function in the neurotransmitter release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Zuber
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Vladan Lučić
- Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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31
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Nicolau S, Milone M. The Electrophysiology of Presynaptic Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes With and Without Facilitation: From Electrodiagnostic Findings to Molecular Mechanisms. Front Neurol 2019; 10:257. [PMID: 30941097 PMCID: PMC6433874 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of inherited disorders of neuromuscular transmission most commonly presenting with early onset fatigable weakness, ptosis, and ophthalmoparesis. CMS are classified according to the localization of the causative molecular defect. CMS with presynaptic dysfunction can be caused by mutations in several different genes, including those involved in acetylcholine synthesis, its packaging into synaptic vesicles, vesicle docking, and release from the presynaptic nerve terminal and neuromuscular junction development and maintenance. Electrodiagnostic testing is key in distinguishing CMS from other neuromuscular disorders with similar clinical features as well as for revealing features pointing to a specific molecular diagnosis. A decremental response on low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) is present in most presynaptic CMS. In CMS with deficits in acetylcholine resynthesis however, a decrement may only appear after conditioning with exercise or high-frequency RNS and characteristically displays a slow recovery. Facilitation occurs in CMS caused by mutations in VAMP1, UNC13A, SYT2, AGRN, LAMA5. By contrast, facilitation is absent in the other presynaptic CMS described to date. An understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms therefore assists the interpretation of electrodiagnostic findings in patients with suspected CMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nicolau
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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32
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RIM and RIM-BP Form Presynaptic Active-Zone-like Condensates via Phase Separation. Mol Cell 2019; 73:971-984.e5. [PMID: 30661983 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Both the timing and kinetics of neurotransmitter release depend on the positioning of clustered Ca2+ channels in active zones to docked synaptic vesicles on presynaptic plasma membranes. However, how active zones form is not known. Here, we show that RIM and RIM-BP, via specific multivalent bindings, form dynamic and condensed assemblies through liquid-liquid phase separation. Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs), via C-terminal-tail-mediated direct binding to both RIM and RIM-BP, can be enriched to the RIM and RIM-BP condensates. We further show that RIM and RIM-BP, together with VGCCs, form dense clusters on the supported lipid membrane bilayers via phase separation. Therefore, RIMs and RIM-BPs are plausible organizers of active zones, and the formation of RIM and RIM-BP condensates may cluster VGCCs into nano- or microdomains and position the clustered Ca2+ channels with Ca2+ sensors on docked vesicles for efficient and precise synaptic transmissions.
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33
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Jung JH, Szule JA, Stouder K, Marshall RM, McMahan UJ. Active Zone Material-Directed Orientation, Docking, and Fusion of Dense Core Vesicles Alongside Synaptic Vesicles at Neuromuscular Junctions. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:72. [PMID: 30271328 PMCID: PMC6146030 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Active zone material is an organelle that is common to active zones along the presynaptic membrane of chemical synapses. Electron tomography on active zones at frog neuromuscular junctions has provided evidence that active zone material directs the docking of synaptic vesicles (SVs) on the presynaptic membrane at this synapse. Certain active zone material macromolecules connect to stereotypically arranged macromolecules in the membrane of undocked SVs, stably orienting a predetermined fusion domain of the vesicle membrane toward the presynaptic membrane while bringing and holding the two membranes together. Docking of the vesicles is required for the impulse-triggered vesicle membrane-presynaptic membrane fusion that releases the vesicles’ neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. As at other synapses, axon terminals at frog neuromuscular junctions contain, in addition to SVs, vesicles that are larger, are much less frequent and, when viewed by electron microscopy, have a distinctive electron dense core. Dense core vesicles at neuromuscular junctions are likely to contain peptides that are released into the synaptic cleft to regulate formation, maintenance and behavior of cellular apparatus essential for synaptic impulse transmission. We show by electron tomography on axon terminals of frog neuromuscular junctions fixed at rest and during repetitive impulse transmission that dense core vesicles selectively dock on and fuse with the presynaptic membrane alongside SVs at active zones, and that active zone material connects to the dense core vesicles undergoing these processes in the same way it connects to SVs. We conclude that undocked dense core vesicles have a predetermined fusion domain, as do undocked SVs, and that active zone material directs oriented docking and fusion of these different vesicle types at active zones of the presynaptic membrane by similar macromolecular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae H Jung
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Joseph A Szule
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Kylee Stouder
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Robert M Marshall
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Uel J McMahan
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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34
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Chakrabarti R, Michanski S, Wichmann C. Vesicle sub-pool organization at inner hair cell ribbon synapses. EMBO Rep 2018; 19:embr.201744937. [PMID: 30201800 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The afferent inner hair cell synapse harbors the synaptic ribbon, which ensures a constant vesicle supply. Synaptic vesicles (SVs) are arranged in morphologically discernable pools, linked via filaments to the ribbon or the presynaptic membrane. We propose that filaments play a major role in SV resupply and exocytosis at the ribbon. Using advanced electron microscopy, we demonstrate that SVs are organized in sub-pools defined by the filament number per vesicle and its connections. Upon stimulation, SVs increasingly linked to other vesicles and to the ribbon, whereas single-tethered SVs dominated at the membrane. Mutant mice for the hair cell protein otoferlin (pachanga, Otof Pga/Pga ) are profoundly deaf with reduced sustained release, serving as a model to investigate the SV replenishment at IHCs. Upon stimulation, multiple-tethered and docked vesicles (rarely observed in wild-type) accumulated at Otof Pga/Pga active zones due to an impairment downstream of docking. Conclusively, vesicles are organized in sub-pools at ribbon-type active zones by filaments to support vesicle supply, transport, and finally release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituparna Chakrabarti
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing", Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susann Michanski
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing", Göttingen, Germany.,Georg-August University School of Science, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany .,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 889 "Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing", Göttingen, Germany
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35
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Schrod N, Vanhecke D, Laugks U, Stein V, Fukuda Y, Schaffer M, Baumeister W, Lucic V. Pleomorphic linkers as ubiquitous structural organizers of vesicles in axons. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197886. [PMID: 29864134 PMCID: PMC5986143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many cellular processes depend on a precise structural organization of molecular components. Here, we established that neurons grown in culture provide a suitable system for in situ structural investigations of cellular structures by cryo-electron tomography, a method that allows high resolution, three-dimensional imaging of fully hydrated, vitrified cellular samples. A higher level of detail of cellular components present in our images allowed us to quantitatively characterize presynaptic and cytoskeletal organization, as well as structures involved in axonal transport and endocytosis. In this way we provide a structural framework into which information from other methods need to fit. Importantly, we show that short pleomorphic linkers (tethers and connectors) extensively interconnect different types of spherical vesicles and other lipid membranes in neurons imaged in a close-to-native state. These linkers likely serve to organize and precisely position vesicles involved in endocytosis, axonal transport and synaptic release. Hence, structural interactions via short linkers may serve as ubiquitous vesicle organizers in neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Schrod
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dimitri Vanhecke
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ulrike Laugks
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Valentin Stein
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yoshiyuki Fukuda
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Miroslava Schaffer
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumeister
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Vladan Lucic
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, Germany
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36
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Walter AM, Böhme MA, Sigrist SJ. Vesicle release site organization at synaptic active zones. Neurosci Res 2017; 127:3-13. [PMID: 29275162 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Information transfer between nerve cells (neurons) forms the basis of behavior, emotion, and survival. Signal transduction from one neuron to another occurs at synapses, and relies on both electrical and chemical signal propagation. At chemical synapses, incoming electrical action potentials trigger the release of chemical neurotransmitters that are sensed by the connected cell and here reconverted to an electrical signal. The presynaptic conversion of an electrical to a chemical signal is an energy demanding, highly regulated process that relies on a complex, evolutionarily conserved molecular machinery. Here, we review the biophysical characteristics of this process, the current knowledge of the molecules operating in this reaction and genetic specializations that may have evolved to shape inter-neuronal signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Walter
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Roessle-Straße 10, Berlin 13125, Germany.
| | - Mathias A Böhme
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Roessle-Straße 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Stephan J Sigrist
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Biology/Genetics, Takustraße 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure, Cluster of Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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37
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Higashio H, Satoh YI, Saino T. Inhibitory role of Munc13-1 in antigen-induced mast cell degranulation. Biomed Res 2017; 38:321-329. [PMID: 29225210 DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.38.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Secretory granules (SGs) of mast cells are lysosome-related organelles that contain various inflammatory molecules such as histamine, which are stored in the cytoplasm. Mast cell degranulation is the regulated exocytosis of SGs in response to external stimuli, such as the antigen-mediated cross-linking of the high-affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI. Upon stimulation, SGs undergo priming to become fusion-competent prior to fusing with the plasma membrane, which is mediated by Munc13-4, one of the five members of the vesicle-priming Munc13 protein family. Although Munc13-4 is shown to be crucial for mast cell degranulation, the functional involvement of other Munc13 isoform(s) remains unknown. Herein, this was investigated using the RBL-2H3 mast cell line. We found that Munc13-1 and Munc13-4 are the only Munc13 isoforms that are expressed in the RBL-2H3 cells, and Munc13-1 is distributed in the cytoplasm, but highly concentrated on the late endosome and/or lysosome. Unexpectedly, antigen-induced degranulation was considerably increased by Munc13-1 knockdown, but decreased by its overexpression. Further, we found that the hypersecretion phenotype of the Munc13-1-knockdown cells was attenuated by simultaneous Munc13-4 knockdown. These results suggested that Munc13-1 has an inhibitory role in antigen-induced mast cell degranulation, which is performed in a Munc13-4-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Higashio
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iwate Medical University
| | - Yoh-Ichi Satoh
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University.,Department of Medical Education, Iwate Medical University
| | - Tomoyuki Saino
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University
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38
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Sakamoto H, Ariyoshi T, Kimpara N, Sugao K, Taiko I, Takikawa K, Asanuma D, Namiki S, Hirose K. Synaptic weight set by Munc13-1 supramolecular assemblies. Nat Neurosci 2017; 21:41-49. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-017-0041-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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39
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Synaptotagmin-1 drives synchronous Ca 2+-triggered fusion by C 2B-domain-mediated synaptic-vesicle-membrane attachment. Nat Neurosci 2017; 21:33-40. [PMID: 29230057 PMCID: PMC5742540 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-017-0037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The synaptic vesicle (SV) protein Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) is the Ca2+ sensor for fast synchronous release. Biochemical and structural data suggest that Syt1 interacts with phospholipids and SNARE complex, but how these interactions translate into SV fusion remains poorly understood. Utilizing flash-and-freeze electron microscopy, which triggers action potentials (AP) with light and coordinately arrests synaptic structures with rapid freezing, we found synchronous release-impairing mutations in the Syt1 C2B domain (K325, 327; R398, 399) to also disrupt SV-active zone plasma membrane attachment. Single AP induction rescued membrane attachment in these mutants within <10ms through activation of the Syt1 Ca2+ binding site. The rapid SV membrane translocation temporarily correlates with resynchronization of release and paired pulse facilitation. Based on these findings, we redefine the role of Syt1 as part of Ca2+-dependent vesicle translocation machinery, and propose that Syt1 enables fast neurotransmitter release by means of its dynamic membrane attachment activities.
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40
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Abstract
At each of the brain's vast number of synapses, the presynaptic nerve terminal, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic specialization form a transcellular unit to enable efficient transmission of information between neurons. While we know much about the molecular machinery within each compartment, we are only beginning to understand how these compartments are structurally registered and functionally integrated with one another. This review will describe the organization of each compartment and then discuss their alignment across pre- and postsynaptic cells at a nanometer scale. We propose that this architecture may allow for precise synaptic information exchange and may be modulated to contribute to the remarkable plasticity of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Biederer
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Thomas A Blanpied
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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41
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Biederer T, Kaeser PS, Blanpied TA. Transcellular Nanoalignment of Synaptic Function. Neuron 2017; 96:680-696. [PMID: 29096080 PMCID: PMC5777221 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
At each of the brain's vast number of synapses, the presynaptic nerve terminal, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic specialization form a transcellular unit to enable efficient transmission of information between neurons. While we know much about the molecular machinery within each compartment, we are only beginning to understand how these compartments are structurally registered and functionally integrated with one another. This review will describe the organization of each compartment and then discuss their alignment across pre- and postsynaptic cells at a nanometer scale. We propose that this architecture may allow for precise synaptic information exchange and may be modulated to contribute to the remarkable plasticity of brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Biederer
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Thomas A Blanpied
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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42
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Pulido C, Marty A. Quantal Fluctuations in Central Mammalian Synapses: Functional Role of Vesicular Docking Sites. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:1403-1430. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00032.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantal fluctuations are an integral part of synaptic signaling. At the frog neuromuscular junction, Bernard Katz proposed that quantal fluctuations originate at “reactive sites” where specific structures of the presynaptic membrane interact with synaptic vesicles. However, the physical nature of reactive sites has remained unclear, both at the frog neuromuscular junction and at central synapses. Many central synapses, called simple synapses, are small structures containing a single presynaptic active zone and a single postsynaptic density of receptors. Several lines of evidence indicate that simple synapses may release several synaptic vesicles in response to a single action potential. However, in some synapses at least, each release event activates a significant fraction of the postsynaptic receptors, giving rise to a sublinear relation between vesicular release and postsynaptic current. Partial receptor saturation as well as synaptic jitter gives to simple synapse signaling the appearance of a binary process. Recent investigations of simple synapses indicate that the number of released vesicles follows binomial statistics, with a maximum reflecting the number of docking sites present in the active zone. These results suggest that at central synapses, vesicular docking sites represent the reactive sites proposed by Katz. The macromolecular architecture and molecular composition of docking sites are presently investigated with novel combinations of techniques. It is proposed that variations in docking site numbers are central in defining intersynaptic variability and that docking site occupancy is a key parameter regulating short-term synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Pulido
- Laboratory of Brain Physiology, CNRS UMR 8118, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Alain Marty
- Laboratory of Brain Physiology, CNRS UMR 8118, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
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43
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Li Y, Wang S, Li T, Zhu L, Xu Y, Ma C. A Stimulation Function of Synaptotagmin-1 in Ternary SNARE Complex Formation Dependent on Munc18 and Munc13. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:256. [PMID: 28860966 PMCID: PMC5559510 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ca2+ sensor synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) plays an essential function in synaptic exocytosis. Recently, Syt1 has been implicated in synaptic vesicle priming, a maturation step prior to Ca2+-triggered membrane fusion that is believed to involve formation of the ternary SNARE complex and require priming proteins Munc18-1 and Munc13-1. However, the mechanisms of Syt1 in synaptic vesicle priming are still unclear. In this study, we found that Syt1 stimulates the transition from the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex to the ternary SNARE complex catalyzed by Munc13-1. This stimulation can be further enhanced in a membrane-containing environment. Further, we showed that Syt1, together with Munc18-1 and Munc13-1, stimulates trans ternary SNARE complex formation on membranes in a manner resistant to disassembly factors NSF and α-SNAP. Disruption of a proposed Syt1/SNARE binding interface strongly abrogated the stimulation function of Syt1. Our results suggest that binding of Syt1 to an intermediate SNARE assembly with Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 is critical for the stimulation function of Syt1 in ternary SNARE complex formation, and this stimulation may underlie the priming function of Syt1 in synaptic exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Shen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Tianzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
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44
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Wang SSH, Held RG, Wong MY, Liu C, Karakhanyan A, Kaeser PS. Fusion Competent Synaptic Vesicles Persist upon Active Zone Disruption and Loss of Vesicle Docking. Neuron 2017; 91:777-791. [PMID: 27537483 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In a nerve terminal, synaptic vesicle docking and release are restricted to an active zone. The active zone is a protein scaffold that is attached to the presynaptic plasma membrane and opposed to postsynaptic receptors. Here, we generated conditional knockout mice removing the active zone proteins RIM and ELKS, which additionally led to loss of Munc13, Bassoon, Piccolo, and RIM-BP, indicating disassembly of the active zone. We observed a near-complete lack of synaptic vesicle docking and a strong reduction in vesicular release probability and the speed of exocytosis, but total vesicle numbers, SNARE protein levels, and postsynaptic densities remained unaffected. Despite loss of the priming proteins Munc13 and RIM and of docked vesicles, a pool of releasable vesicles remained. Thus, the active zone is necessary for synaptic vesicle docking and to enhance release probability, but releasable vesicles can be localized distant from the presynaptic plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shan H Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard G Held
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Man Yan Wong
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Changliang Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aziz Karakhanyan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pascal S Kaeser
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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45
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Camacho M, Basu J, Trimbuch T, Chang S, Pulido-Lozano C, Chang SS, Duluvova I, Abo-Rady M, Rizo J, Rosenmund C. Heterodimerization of Munc13 C 2A domain with RIM regulates synaptic vesicle docking and priming. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15293. [PMID: 28489077 PMCID: PMC5436228 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The presynaptic active zone protein Munc13 is essential for neurotransmitter release, playing key roles in vesicle docking and priming. Mechanistically, it is thought that the C2A domain of Munc13 inhibits the priming function by homodimerization, and that RIM disrupts the autoinhibitory homodimerization forming monomeric priming-competent Munc13. However, it is unclear whether the C2A domain mediates other Munc13 functions in addition to this inactivation–activation switch. Here, we utilize mutations that modulate the homodimerization and heterodimerization states to define additional roles of the Munc13 C2A domain. Using electron microscopy and electrophysiology in hippocampal cultures, we show that the C2A domain is critical for additional steps of vesicular release, including vesicle docking. Optimal vesicle docking and priming is only possible when Munc13 heterodimerizes with RIM via its C2A domain. Beyond being a switching module, our data suggest that the Munc13-RIM heterodimer is an active component of the vesicle docking, priming and release complex. The interaction between RIM and the C2A domain of Munc13 is known to be required for synaptic vesicle priming. Here the authors show new implications of the C2A domain of Munc13, through its dynamic interaction with RIM, in orchestrating a wide range of modulatory operations that shape vesicle docking, priming and neurotransmitter release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcial Camacho
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jayeeta Basu
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Thorsten Trimbuch
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shuwen Chang
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cristina Pulido-Lozano
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shwu-Shin Chang
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Irina Duluvova
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Masin Abo-Rady
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Josep Rizo
- Departments of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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46
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A stochastic model of active zone material mediated synaptic vesicle docking and priming at resting active zones. Sci Rep 2017; 7:278. [PMID: 28325932 PMCID: PMC5428245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic vesicles (SVs) fuse with the presynaptic membrane (PM) at specialized regions called active zones for synaptic transmission. SVs are associated with dense aggregates of macromolecules called active zone material (AZM) that has been thought to be involved in SV release. However, its role has recently begun to be elucidated. Several morphological studies proposed distinctively different AZM mediated SV docking and priming models: sequential and concurrent SV docking/priming. To explore ways to reconcile the contradictory models we develop a stochastic AZM mediated SV docking and priming model. We assume that the position of each connection site of the AZM macromolecules on their SV, directly linking the SV with the PM, varies by random shortening and lengthening of the macromolecules at resting active zones. We also perform computer simulations of SVs near the PM at resting active zones, and the results show that the distribution of the AZM connection sites can significantly affect the SV's docking efficiency and distribution of its contact area with the PM, thus priming and that the area correlates with the shape of the SVs providing a way to account for seemingly irreconcilable observations reported about the spatial relationship of SVs with the PM at active zones.
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47
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Lipstein N, Göth M, Piotrowski C, Pagel K, Sinz A, Jahn O. Presynaptic Calmodulin targets: lessons from structural proteomics. Expert Rev Proteomics 2017; 14:223-242. [DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2017.1275966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melanie Göth
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Berlin & Fritz Haber Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Piotrowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kevin Pagel
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Berlin & Fritz Haber Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Olaf Jahn
- Proteomics Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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48
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Imig C, Cooper BH. 3D Analysis of Synaptic Ultrastructure in Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Culture by High-Pressure Freezing and Electron Tomography. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1538:215-231. [PMID: 27943193 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6688-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy serves as a valuable tool for synaptic structure-function analyses aimed at identifying morphological features or modifications associated with specific developmental stages or dysfunctional synaptic states. By utilizing cryo-preparation techniques to minimize the introduction of structural artifacts during sample preparation, and electron tomography to reconstruct the 3D ultrastructural architecture of a synapse, the spatial organization and morphological properties of synaptic organelles and subcompartments can be quantified with unparalleled precision. In this chapter, we present an experimental approach combining organotypic slice culture, high-pressure freezing, automated freeze-substitution, and electron tomography to investigate spatial relationships between synaptic vesicles and active zone release sites in synapses from lethal mouse mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Imig
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Cooper
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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49
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Bruckner JJ, Zhan H, Gratz SJ, Rao M, Ukken F, Zilberg G, O'Connor-Giles KM. Fife organizes synaptic vesicles and calcium channels for high-probability neurotransmitter release. J Cell Biol 2016; 216:231-246. [PMID: 27998991 PMCID: PMC5223599 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201601098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fife is a Piccolo-RIM–related protein that regulates neurotransmission and motor behavior through an unknown mechanism. Here, Bruckner et al. show that Fife organizes synaptic vesicle docking and coupling to calcium channels to establish and modulate synaptic strength. The strength of synaptic connections varies significantly and is a key determinant of communication within neural circuits. Mechanistic insight into presynaptic factors that establish and modulate neurotransmitter release properties is crucial to understanding synapse strength, circuit function, and neural plasticity. We previously identified Drosophila Piccolo-RIM-related Fife, which regulates neurotransmission and motor behavior through an unknown mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that Fife localizes and interacts with RIM at the active zone cytomatrix to promote neurotransmitter release. Loss of Fife results in the severe disruption of active zone cytomatrix architecture and molecular organization. Through electron tomographic and electrophysiological studies, we find a decrease in the accumulation of release-ready synaptic vesicles and their release probability caused by impaired coupling to Ca2+ channels. Finally, we find that Fife is essential for the homeostatic modulation of neurotransmission. We propose that Fife organizes active zones to create synaptic vesicle release sites within nanometer distance of Ca2+ channel clusters for reliable and modifiable neurotransmitter release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Bruckner
- Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Hong Zhan
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Scott J Gratz
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Monica Rao
- Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Fiona Ukken
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Gregory Zilberg
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Kate M O'Connor-Giles
- Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 .,Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706.,Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
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Engel AG, Selcen D, Shen XM, Milone M, Harper CM. Loss of MUNC13-1 function causes microcephaly, cortical hyperexcitability, and fatal myasthenia. NEUROLOGY-GENETICS 2016; 2:e105. [PMID: 27648472 PMCID: PMC5017540 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To identify the molecular basis of a fatal syndrome of microcephaly, cortical hyperexcitability, and myasthenia. Methods: We performed clinical and in vitro microelectrode studies of neuromuscular transmission, examined neuromuscular junctions cytochemically and by electron microscopy (EM), and searched for mutations by Sanger and exome sequencing. Results: Neuromuscular transmission was severely compromised by marked depletion of the readily releasable pool of quanta, but the probability of quantal release was normal. Cytochemical and EM studies revealed normal endplate architecture. Exome sequencing identified a homozygous nonsense mutation in the N-terminal domain of MUNC13-1 (UNC13A) truncating the protein after 101 residues. Conclusions: Loss of Munc13-1 function predicts that syntaxin 1B is consigned to a nonfunctional closed state; this inhibits cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction and glutamatergic transmission in the brain. Inactivation of syntaxin 1B likely accounts for the patient's cortical hyperexcitability because mutations of syntaxin 1B cause febrile seizures with or without epilepsy, haploinsufficiency of the STX1B is associated with myoclonic astatic epilepsy, and antisense knockdown of stx1b in zebrafish larvae elicits epileptiform discharges. A very recent publication also shows that syntaxin 1B has a separate obligatory role for maintenance of developing and mature neurons and illustrates impaired brain development in syntaxin 1A/1B double knockout mice. We therefore attribute our patient's microcephaly to the truncating homozygous Munc13-1 mutation that consigns syntaxin 1B to a permanently closed nonfunctional state akin to a knockout.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Duygu Selcen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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