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Dittrich A, Ramesh G, Jung M, Schmitz F. Rabconnectin-3α/DMXL2 Is Locally Enriched at the Synaptic Ribbon of Rod Photoreceptor Synapses. Cells 2023; 12:1665. [PMID: 37371135 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribbon synapses reliably transmit synaptic signals over a broad signalling range. Rod photoreceptor ribbon synapses are capable of transmitting signals generated by the absorption of single photons. The high precision of ribbon synapses emphasizes the need for particularly efficient signalling mechanisms. Synaptic ribbons are presynaptic specializations of ribbon synapses and are anchored to the active zone. Synaptic ribbons bind many synaptic vesicles that are delivered to the active zone for continuous and faithful signalling. In the present study we demonstrate with independent antibodies at the light- and electron microscopic level that rabconnectin-3α (RC3α)-alternative name Dmx-like 2 (DMXL2)-is localized to the synaptic ribbons of rod photoreceptor synapses in the mouse retina. In the brain, RC3α-containing complexes are known to interact with important components of synaptic vesicles, including Rab3-activating/inactivating enzymes, priming proteins and the vesicular H+-ATPase that acidifies the synaptic vesicle lumen to promote full neurotransmitter loading. The association of RC3α/DMXL2 with rod synaptic ribbons of the mouse retina could enable these structures to deliver only fully signalling-competent synaptic vesicles to the active zone thus contributing to reliable synaptic communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Dittrich
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Girish Ramesh
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin Jung
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
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Ciliary Proteins Repurposed by the Synaptic Ribbon: Trafficking Myristoylated Proteins at Rod Photoreceptor Synapses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137135. [PMID: 35806143 PMCID: PMC9266639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Unc119 protein mediates transport of myristoylated proteins to the photoreceptor outer segment, a specialized primary cilium. This transport activity is regulated by the GTPase Arl3 as well as by Arl13b and Rp2 that control Arl3 activation/inactivation. Interestingly, Unc119 is also enriched in photoreceptor synapses and can bind to RIBEYE, the main component of synaptic ribbons. In the present study, we analyzed whether the known regulatory proteins, that control the Unc119-dependent myristoylated protein transport at the primary cilium, are also present at the photoreceptor synaptic ribbon complex by using high-resolution immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy. We found Arl3 and Arl13b to be enriched at the synaptic ribbon whereas Rp2 was predominantly found on vesicles distributed within the entire terminal. These findings indicate that the synaptic ribbon could be involved in the discharge of Unc119-bound lipid-modified proteins. In agreement with this hypothesis, we found Nphp3 (Nephrocystin-3), a myristoylated, Unc119-dependent cargo protein enriched at the basal portion of the ribbon in close vicinity to the active zone. Mutations in Nphp3 are known to be associated with Senior–Løken Syndrome 3 (SLS3). Visual impairment and blindness in SLS3 might thus not only result from ciliary dysfunctions but also from malfunctions of the photoreceptor synapse.
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Shankhwar S, Schwarz K, Katiyar R, Jung M, Maxeiner S, Südhof TC, Schmitz F. RIBEYE B-Domain Is Essential for RIBEYE A-Domain Stability and Assembly of Synaptic Ribbons. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:838311. [PMID: 35153673 PMCID: PMC8831697 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.838311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic ribbons are presynaptic specializations that define eponymous ribbon synapses. Synaptic ribbons are largely composed of RIBEYE, a protein containing an N-terminal A-domain and a carboxyterminal B-domain that is identical with CtBP2, a NAD(H)-binding transcriptional co-repressor. Previously we showed that synaptic ribbons are completely absent in RIBEYE knockout mice in which the RIBEYE A-domain-encoding exon had been deleted, but CtBP2 is still made, demonstrating that the A-domain is required for synaptic ribbon assembly. In the present study, we asked whether the RIBEYE B-domain also has an essential role in the assembly of synaptic ribbons. For this purpose, we made use of RIBEYE knockin mice in which the RIBEYE B-domain was replaced by a fluorescent protein domain, whereas the RIBEYE A-domain was retained unchanged. We found that replacing the RIBEYE B-domain with a fluorescent protein module destabilizes the resulting hybrid protein and causes a complete loss of synaptic ribbons. Our results thus demonstrate an essential role of the RIBEYE B-domain in enabling RIBEYE assembly into synaptic ribbons, reinforcing the notion that RIBEYE is the central organizer of synaptic ribbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soni Shankhwar
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Soni Shankhwar Frank Schmitz
| | - Karin Schwarz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
| | - Rashmi Katiyar
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin Jung
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Maxeiner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
| | - Thomas C. Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, Medical School, Homburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Soni Shankhwar Frank Schmitz
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Kesharwani A, Schwarz K, Dembla E, Dembla M, Schmitz F. Early Changes in Exo- and Endocytosis in the EAE Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis Correlate with Decreased Synaptic Ribbon Size and Reduced Ribbon-Associated Vesicle Pools in Rod Photoreceptor Synapses. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910789. [PMID: 34639129 PMCID: PMC8509850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that finally leads to demyelination. Demyelinating optic neuritis is a frequent symptom in MS. Recent studies also revealed synapse dysfunctions in MS patients and MS mouse models. We previously reported alterations of photoreceptor ribbon synapses in the experimental auto-immune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS. In the present study, we found that the previously observed decreased imunosignals of photoreceptor ribbons in early EAE resulted from a decrease in synaptic ribbon size, whereas the number/density of ribbons in photoreceptor synapses remained unchanged. Smaller photoreceptor ribbons are associated with fewer docked and ribbon-associated vesicles. At a functional level, depolarization-evoked exocytosis as monitored by optical recording was diminished even as early as on day 7 after EAE induction. Moreover compensatory, post-depolarization endocytosis was decreased. Decreased post-depolarization endocytosis in early EAE correlated with diminished synaptic enrichment of dynamin3. In contrast, basal endocytosis in photoreceptor synapses of resting non-depolarized retinal slices was increased in early EAE. Increased basal endocytosis correlated with increased de-phosphorylation of dynamin1. Thus, multiple endocytic pathways in photoreceptor synapse are differentially affected in early EAE and likely contribute to the observed synapse pathology in early EAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kesharwani
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (K.S.); (E.D.); (M.D.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Karin Schwarz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (K.S.); (E.D.); (M.D.); (F.S.)
| | - Ekta Dembla
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (K.S.); (E.D.); (M.D.); (F.S.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mayur Dembla
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (K.S.); (E.D.); (M.D.); (F.S.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (K.S.); (E.D.); (M.D.); (F.S.)
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Dembla E, Dembla M, Maxeiner S, Schmitz F. Synaptic ribbons foster active zone stability and illumination-dependent active zone enrichment of RIM2 and Cav1.4 in photoreceptor synapses. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5957. [PMID: 32249787 PMCID: PMC7136232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62734-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rod photoreceptor synapses use large, ribbon-type active zones for continuous synaptic transmission during light and dark. Since ribbons are physically connected to the active zones, we asked whether illumination-dependent changes of ribbons influence Cav1.4/RIM2 protein clusters at the active zone and whether these illumination-dependent effects at the active zone require the presence of the synaptic ribbon. We found that synaptic ribbon length and the length of presynaptic Cav1.4/RIM2 clusters are tightly correlated. Dark-adaptation did not change the number of ribbons and active zone puncta. However, mean ribbon length and length of presynaptic Cav1.4/RIM2 clusters increased significantly during dark-adaptation when tonic exocytosis is highest. In the present study, we identified by the analyses of synaptic ribbon-deficient RIBEYE knockout mice that synaptic ribbons are (1) needed to stabilize Cav1.4/RIM2 at rod photoreceptor active zones and (2) are required for the darkness-induced active zone enrichment of Cav1.4/RIM2. These data propose a role of the ribbon in active zone stabilization and suggest a homeostatic function of the ribbon in illumination-dependent active zone remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Dembla
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Saarland University, Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Mayur Dembla
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Saarland University, Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Maxeiner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Saarland University, Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland University, AG Krasteva-Christ, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Saarland University, Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
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Dembla M, Kesharwani A, Natarajan S, Fecher-Trost C, Fairless R, Williams SK, Flockerzi V, Diem R, Schwarz K, Schmitz F. Early auto-immune targeting of photoreceptor ribbon synapses in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 10:emmm.201808926. [PMID: 30266776 PMCID: PMC6220320 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201808926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optic neuritis is one of the first manifestations of multiple sclerosis. Its pathogenesis is incompletely understood, but considered to be initiated by an auto‐immune response directed against myelin sheaths of the optic nerve. Here, we demonstrate in two frequently used and well‐validated mouse models of optic neuritis that ribbon synapses in the myelin‐free retina are targeted by an auto‐reactive immune system even before alterations in the optic nerve have developed. The auto‐immune response is directed against two adhesion proteins (CASPR1/CNTN1) that are present both in the paranodal region of myelinated nerves as well as at retinal ribbon synapses. This occurs in parallel with altered synaptic vesicle cycling in retinal ribbon synapses and altered visual behavior before the onset of optic nerve demyelination. These findings indicate that early synaptic dysfunctions in the retina contribute to the pathology of optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Dembla
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ajay Kesharwani
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Sivaraman Natarajan
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Fecher-Trost
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarah K Williams
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Veit Flockerzi
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Diem
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karin Schwarz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
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