Munc18-1-regulated stage-wise SNARE assembly underlying synaptic exocytosis

How SNARE proteins generate force to fuse membranes

Membrane fusion is central to fundamental cellular processes such as exocytosis, when an intracellular machinery fuses membrane-enclosed vesicles to the plasma membrane for content release. The core machinery components are the SNARE proteins. SNARE complexation pulls the membranes together, but the fusion mechanism remains unclear. A common view is that the complexation energy drives fusion, but how this energy is harvested for fusion is unexplained. Moreover, SNAREs likely fully assemble before fusion. Computer simulation is challenging, as even fast neurotransmitter release at neuronal synapses involves fusion on ms timescales, beyond the scope of atomistic or mildly coarse-grained approaches. Here, we used highly coarse-grained representations, allowing simulation of the ms timescales of physiological SNARE-driven fusion under physiological conditions. Due to constant collisions, the rod-like SNARE complexes spontaneously generated entropic forces ∼8 pN per SNARE that cleared the fusion site and squeezed the membranes with forces ∼19 pN per SNARE, catalyzing a hemifused stalk connection. Regrouping, five or more SNARE complexes exerted entropic tensions 2.5 pN/nm or greater, expanding the stalk into a hemifusion diaphragm (HD), followed by HD rupture and fusion. The entropic forces generated tensions ∼17-21 pN in the SNARE linker domains (LDs). Previous optical tweezer measurements suggest that, on the ms timescales of fusion, these LD tensions are sufficient to unzipper the LDs while leaving the C-terminal domain (CTD) marginally intact, which are both required for fusion. Consistent with a recent magnetic tweezers study, we propose that the CTD may be further stabilized by complexin for robust fusion. Our results explain how SNARE-generated forces fuse membranes and predict that more SNARE complexes exert higher net force so that fusion is faster, consistent with experimental electrophysiological studies at neuronal synapses. Thus, entropic forces evolve SNARE complexes into a fusogenic, partially unzippered state, squeeze membranes for hemifusion, and expand hemifusion connections for fusion.

Exocyst stimulates multiple steps of exocytic SNARE complex assembly and vesicle fusion

Exocyst is a large multisubunit tethering complex essential for targeting and fusion of secretory vesicles in eukaryotic cells. Although the assembled exocyst complex has been proposed to tether vesicles to the plasma membrane and activate soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) for membrane fusion, the key biochemical steps that exocyst stimulates in SNARE-mediated fusion are undetermined. Here we use a combination of single-molecule and bulk fluorescence assays to investigate the roles of purified octameric yeast exocyst complexes in a reconstituted yeast exocytic SNARE assembly and vesicle fusion system. Exocyst had stimulatory roles in multiple distinct steps ranging from SNARE protein activation to binary and ternary complex assembly. Importantly, exocyst had a downstream role in driving membrane fusion and full content mixing of vesicle lumens. Our data suggest that exocyst provides extensive chaperoning functions across the entire process of SNARE complex assembly and fusion, thereby governing exocytosis at multiple steps.

Functional role of UNC13D in immune diseases and its therapeutic applications

UNC13 family (also known as Munc13) proteins are evolutionarily conserved proteins involved in the rapid and regulated secretion of vesicles, including synaptic vesicles and cytotoxic granules. Fast and regulated secretion at the neuronal and immunological synapses requires multiple steps, from the biogenesis of vesicles to membrane fusion, and a complex array of proteins for each step. Defects at these steps can lead to various genetic disorders. Recent studies have shown multiple roles of UNC13D in the secretion of cytotoxic granules by immune cells. Here, the molecular structure and detailed roles of UNC13D in the biogenesis, tethering, and priming of cytotoxic vesicles and in endoplasmic reticulum are summarized. Moreover, its association with immune diseases, including familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 3, macrophage activation syndrome, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, is reviewed. Finally, the therapeutic application of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy for genetic diseases is introduced.

Reduced Protein Stability of 11 Pathogenic Missense STXBP1/MUNC18-1 Variants and Improved Disease Prediction

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants in STXBP1/MUNC18-1 cause severe encephalopathies that are among the most common in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Different molecular disease mechanisms have been proposed, and pathogenicity prediction is limited. In this study, we aimed to define a generalized disease concept for STXBP1-related disorders and improve prediction.

METHODS

A cohort of 11 disease-associated and 5 neutral variants (detected in healthy individuals) were tested in 3 cell-free assays and in heterologous cells and primary neurons. Protein aggregation was tested using gel filtration and Triton X-100 insolubility. PRESR (predicting STXBP1-related disorder), a machine learning algorithm that uses both sequence- and 3-dimensional structure-based features, was developed to improve pathogenicity prediction using 231 known disease-associated variants and comparison to our experimental data.

RESULTS

Disease-associated variants, but none of the neutral variants, produced reduced protein levels. Cell-free assays demonstrated directly that disease-associated variants have reduced thermostability, with most variants denaturing around body temperature. In addition, most disease-associated variants impaired SNARE-mediated membrane fusion in a reconstituted assay. Aggregation/insolubility was observed for none of the variants in vitro or in neurons. PRESR outperformed existing tools substantially: Matthews correlation coefficient = 0.71 versus <0.55.

CONCLUSIONS

These data establish intrinsic protein instability as the generalizable, primary cause for STXBP1-related disorders and show that protein-specific ortholog and 3-dimensional information improve disease prediction. PRESR is a publicly available diagnostic tool.

Nonlinear compliance of NompC gating spring and its implication in mechanotransduction

Cytoskeleton-tethered mechanosensitive channels (MSCs) utilize compliant proteins or protein domains called gating springs to convert mechanical stimuli into electric signals, enabling sound and touch sensation and proprioception. The mechanical properties of these gating springs, however, remain elusive. Here, we explored the mechanical properties of the homotetrameric NompC complex containing long ankyrin-repeat domains (ARDs). We developed a toehold-mediated strand displacement approach to tether single membrane proteins, allowing us to exert force on them and precisely measure their absolute extension using optical tweezers. Our findings revealed that each ARD has a low stiffness of ~0.7 pN/nm and begins to unfold stepwise at ~7 pN, leading to nonlinear compliance. Our calculations indicate that this nonlinear compliance may help regulate NompC's sensitivity, dynamic range, and kinetics to detect mechanical stimuli. Overall, our research highlights the importance of a compliant and unfolding-refolding gating spring in facilitating a graded response of MSC ion transduction across a wide spectrum of mechanical stimuli.

SM protein Sly1 and a SNARE Habc domain promote membrane fusion through multiple mechanisms

SM proteins including Sly1 are essential cofactors of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Using SNARE and Sly1 mutants and chemically defined in vitro assays, we separate and assess proposed mechanisms through which Sly1 augments fusion: (i) opening the closed conformation of the Qa-SNARE Sed5; (ii) close-range tethering of vesicles to target organelles, mediated by the Sly1-specific regulatory loop; and (iii) nucleation of productive trans-SNARE complexes. We show that all three mechanisms are important and operate in parallel, and that close-range tethering promotes trans-complex assembly when cis-SNARE assembly is a competing process. Further, we demonstrate that the autoinhibitory N-terminal Habc domain of Sed5 has at least two positive activities: it is needed for correct Sed5 localization, and it directly promotes Sly1-dependent fusion. "Split Sed5," with Habc presented solely as a soluble fragment, can function both in vitro and in vivo. Habc appears to facilitate events leading to lipid mixing rather than promoting opening or stability of the fusion pore.

Differential SNARE chaperoning by Munc13-1 and Munc18-1 dictates fusion pore fate at the release site

The regulated release of chemical messengers is crucial for cell-to-cell communication; abnormalities in which impact coordinated human body function. During vesicular secretion, multiple SNARE complexes assemble at the release site, leading to fusion pore opening. How membrane fusion regulators act on heterogeneous SNARE populations to assemble fusion pores in a timely and synchronized manner, is unknown. Here, we demonstrate the role of SNARE chaperones Munc13-1 and Munc18-1 in rescuing individual nascent fusion pores from their diacylglycerol lipid-mediated inhibitory states. At the onset of membrane fusion, Munc13-1 clusters multiple SNARE complexes at the release site and synchronizes release events, while Munc18-1 stoichiometrically interacts with trans-SNARE complexes to enhance N- to C-terminal zippering. When both Munc proteins are present simultaneously, they differentially access dynamic trans-SNARE complexes to regulate pore properties. Overall, Munc proteins' direct action on fusion pore assembly indicates their role in controlling quantal size during vesicular secretion.

Identical sequences, different behaviors: Protein diversity captured at the single-molecule level

The classical "one sequence, one structure, one function" paradigm has shaped much of our intuition of how proteins work inside the cell. Partially due to the insight provided by bulk biochemical assays, individual biomolecules are often assumed to behave as identical entities, and their characterization relies on ensemble averages that flatten any conformational diversity into a unique phenotype. While the emergence of single-molecule techniques opened the gates to interrogating individual molecules, technical shortcomings typically limit the duration of these measurements, which precludes a complete characterization of an individual protein and, hence, capturing the heterogeneity among molecular populations. Here, we introduce an ultrastable magnetic tweezers design, which enables us to measure the folding dynamics of a single protein during several uninterrupted days with high temporal and spatial resolution. Thanks to this instrumental development, we fully characterize the nanomechanics of two proteins with a very distinct force response, the talin R3IVVI domain and protein L. Days-long recordings on the same protein individual accumulate thousands of folding transitions with submicrosecond resolution, allowing us to reconstruct their free energy landscapes and describe how they evolve with force. By mapping the nanomechanical identity of many different protein individuals, we directly capture their molecular diversity as a quantifiable dispersion on their force response and folding kinetics. By significantly expanding the measurable timescales, our instrumental development offers a tool for profiling individual molecules, opening the gates to directly characterizing biomolecular heterogeneity.

Tomosyns attenuate SNARE assembly and synaptic depression by binding to VAMP2-containing template complexes

Tomosyns are widely thought to attenuate membrane fusion by competing with synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2 for SNARE-complex assembly. Here, we present evidence against this scenario. In a novel mouse model, tomosyn-1/2 deficiency lowered the fusion barrier and enhanced the probability that synaptic vesicles fuse, resulting in stronger synapses with faster depression and slower recovery. While wild-type tomosyn-1m rescued these phenotypes, substitution of its SNARE motif with that of synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2 did not. Single-molecule force measurements indeed revealed that tomosyn's SNARE motif cannot substitute synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2 to form template complexes with Munc18-1 and syntaxin-1, an essential intermediate for SNARE assembly. Instead, tomosyns extensively bind synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2-containing template complexes and prevent SNAP-25 association. Structure-function analyses indicate that the C-terminal polybasic region contributes to tomosyn's inhibitory function. These results reveal that tomosyns regulate synaptic transmission by cooperating with synaptobrevin-2/VAMP2 to prevent SNAP-25 binding during SNARE assembly, thereby limiting initial synaptic strength and equalizing it during repetitive stimulation.

The stability of the primed pool of synaptic vesicles and the clamping of spontaneous neurotransmitter release rely on the integrity of the C-terminal half of the SNARE domain of syntaxin-1A

The SNARE proteins are central in membrane fusion and, at the synapse, neurotransmitter release. However, their involvement in the dual regulation of the synchronous release while maintaining a pool of readily releasable vesicles remains unclear. Using a chimeric approach, we performed a systematic analysis of the SNARE domain of STX1A by exchanging the whole SNARE domain or its N- or C-terminus subdomains with those of STX2. We expressed these chimeric constructs in STX1-null hippocampal mouse neurons. Exchanging the C-terminal half of STX1's SNARE domain with that of STX2 resulted in a reduced RRP accompanied by an increased release rate, while inserting the C-terminal half of STX1's SNARE domain into STX2 leads to an enhanced priming and decreased release rate. Additionally, we found that the mechanisms for clamping spontaneous, but not for Ca2+-evoked release, are particularly susceptible to changes in specific residues on the outer surface of the C-terminus of the SNARE domain of STX1A. Particularly, mutations of D231 and R232 affected the fusogenicity of the vesicles. We propose that the C-terminal half of the SNARE domain of STX1A plays a crucial role in the stabilization of the RRP as well as in the clamping of spontaneous synaptic vesicle fusion through the regulation of the energetic landscape for fusion, while it also plays a covert role in the speed and efficacy of Ca2+-evoked release.

Dissecting the mechanism of atlastin-mediated homotypic membrane fusion at the single-molecule level

Homotypic membrane fusion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is mediated by dynamin-like GTPase atlastin (ATL). This fundamental process relies on GTP-dependent domain rearrangements in the N-terminal region of ATL (ATLcyto), including the GTPase domain and three-helix bundle (3HB). However, its conformational dynamics during the GTPase cycle remain elusive. Here, we combine single-molecule FRET imaging and molecular dynamics simulations to address this conundrum. Different from the prevailing model, ATLcyto can form a loose crossover dimer upon GTP binding, which is tightened by GTP hydrolysis for membrane fusion. Furthermore, the α-helical motif between the 3HB and transmembrane domain, which is embedded in the surface of the lipid bilayer and self-associates in the crossover dimer, is required for ATL function. To recycle the proteins, Pi release, which disassembles the dimer, activates frequent relative movements between the GTPase domain and 3HB, and subsequent GDP dissociation alters the conformational preference of the ATLcyto monomer for entering the next reaction cycle. Finally, we found that two disease-causing mutations affect human ATL1 activity by destabilizing GTP binding-induced loose crossover dimer formation and the membrane-embedded helix, respectively. These results provide insights into ATL-mediated homotypic membrane fusion and the pathological mechanisms of related disease.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Proteins Regulating Synaptic Vesicle Fusion

Neuronal transmitters are packaged in synaptic vesicles (SVs) and released by the fusion of SVs with the presynaptic membrane (PM). An inflow of Ca²⁺ into the nerve terminal triggers fusion, and the SV-associated protein Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) serves as a Ca²⁺ sensor. In preparation for fusion, SVs become attached to the PM by the SNARE protein complex, a coiled-coil bundle that exerts the force overcoming SV-PM repulsion. A cytosolic protein Complexin (Cpx) attaches to the SNARE complex and differentially regulates the evoked and spontaneous release components. It is still debated how the dynamic interactions of Syt1, SNARE proteins and Cpx lead to fusion. This problem is confounded by heterogeneity in the conformational states of the prefusion protein-lipid complex and by the lack of tools to experimentally monitor the rapid conformational transitions of the complex, which occur at a sub-millisecond scale. However, these complications can be overcome employing molecular dynamics (MDs), a computational approach that enables simulating interactions and conformational transitions of proteins and lipids. This review discusses the use of molecular dynamics for the investigation of the pre-fusion protein-lipid complex. We discuss the dynamics of the SNARE complex between lipid bilayers, as well as the interactions of Syt1 with lipids and SNARE proteins, and Cpx regulating the assembly of the SNARE complex.

Complexin-1 regulated assembly of single neuronal SNARE complex revealed by single-molecule optical tweezers

The dynamic assembly of the Synaptic-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment REceptor (SNARE) complex is crucial to understand membrane fusion. Traditional ensemble study meets the challenge to dissect the dynamic assembly of the protein complex. Here, we apply minute force on a tethered protein complex through dual-trap optical tweezers and study the folding dynamics of SNARE complex under mechanical force regulated by complexin-1 (CpxI). We reconstruct the clamp and facilitate functions of CpxI in vitro and identify different interplay mechanism of CpxI fragment binding on the SNARE complex. Specially, while the N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a dominant role of the facilitate function, CTD is mainly related to clamping. And the mixture of 1-83aa and CTD of CpxI can efficiently reconstitute the inhibitory signal identical to that the full-length CpxI functions. Our observation identifies the important chaperone role of the CpxI molecule in the dynamic assembly of SNARE complex under mechanical tension, and elucidates the specific function of each fragment of CpxI molecules in the chaperone process.

SNARE Proteins in Synaptic Vesicle Fusion

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.

A dynamic template complex mediates Munc18-chaperoned SNARE assembly

Munc18 chaperones assembly of three membrane-anchored soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) into a four-helix bundle to mediate membrane fusion between vesicles and plasma membranes, leading to neurotransmitter or insulin release, glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation, or other exocytotic processes. Yet, the molecular mechanism underlying chaperoned SNARE assembly is not well understood. Recent evidence suggests that Munc18-1 and Munc18-3 simultaneously bind their cognate SNAREs to form ternary template complexes - Munc18-1:Syntaxin-1:VAMP2 for synaptic vesicle fusion and Munc18-3:Syntaxin-4:VAMP2 for GLUT4 translocation and insulin release, which facilitate the binding of SNAP-25 or SNAP-23 to conclude SNARE assembly. Here, we further investigate the structure, dynamics, and function of the template complexes using optical tweezers. Our results suggest that the synaptic template complex transitions to an activated state with a rate of 0.054 s-1 for efficient SNAP-25 binding. The transition depends upon the linker region of syntaxin-1 upstream of its helical bundle-forming SNARE motif. In addition, the template complex is stabilized by a poorly characterized disordered loop region in Munc18-1. While the synaptic template complex efficiently binds both SNAP-25 and SNAP-23, the GLUT4 template complex strongly favors SNAP-23 over SNAP-25, despite the similar stabilities of their assembled SNARE bundles. Together, our data demonstrate that a highly dynamic template complex mediates efficient and specific SNARE assembly.

Quantitative Models of Lipid Transfer and Membrane Contact Formation

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) transfer lipids between different organelles, and thus play key roles in lipid homeostasis and organelle dynamics. The lipid transfer often occurs at the membrane contact sites (MCS) where two membranes are held within 10-30 nm. While most LTPs act as a shuttle to transfer lipids, recent experiments reveal a new category of eukaryotic LTPs that may serve as a bridge to transport lipids in bulk at MCSs. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying lipid transfer and MCS formation are not well understood. Here, we first review two recent studies of extended synaptotagmin (E-Syt)-mediated membrane binding and lipid transfer using novel approaches. Then we describe mathematical models to quantify the kinetics of lipid transfer by shuttle LTPs based on a lipid exchange mechanism. We find that simple lipid mixing among membranes of similar composition and/or lipid partitioning among membranes of distinct composition can explain lipid transfer against a concentration gradient widely observed for LTPs. We predict that selective transport of lipids, but not membrane proteins, by bridge LTPs leads to osmotic membrane tension by analogy to the osmotic pressure across a semipermeable membrane. A gradient of such tension and the conventional membrane tension may drive bulk lipid flow through bridge LTPs at a speed consistent with the fast membrane expansion observed in vivo. Finally, we discuss the implications of membrane tension and lipid transfer in organelle biogenesis. Overall, the quantitative models may help clarify the mechanisms of LTP-mediated MCS formation and lipid transfer.

Assembly-promoting protein Munc18c stimulates SNARE-dependent membrane fusion through its SNARE-like peptide

Intracellular vesicle fusion requires the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) and their cognate Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins. How SM proteins act in concert with trans-SNARE complexes to promote membrane fusion remains incompletely understood. Munc18c, a broadly distributed SM protein, selectively regulates multiple exocytotic pathways, including GLUT4 exocytosis. Here, using an in vitro reconstituted system, we discovered a SNARE-like peptide (SLP), conserved in Munc18-1 of synaptic exocytosis, is crucial to the stimulatory activity of Munc18c in vesicle fusion. The direct stimulation of the SNARE-mediated fusion reaction by SLP further supported the essential role of this fragment. Interestingly, we found SLP strongly accelerates the membrane fusion rate when anchored to the target membrane but not the vesicle membrane, suggesting it primarily interacts with t-SNAREs in cis to drive fusion. Furthermore, we determined the SLP fragment is competitive with the full-length Munc18c protein and specific to the cognate v-SNARE isoforms, supporting how it could resemble Munc18c’s activity in membrane fusion. Together, our findings demonstrate that Munc18c facilitates SNARE-dependent membrane fusion through SLP, revealing that the t-SNARE-SLP binding mode might be a conserved mechanism for the stimulatory function of SM proteins in vesicle fusion.

SQSTM1/p62 promotes miR-198 loading into extracellular vesicles and its autophagy-related secretion

MicroRNA dysregulation is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to tumor growth and metastasis. Previous screening on patient specimens identified miR-198 as the most downregulated miRNA in HCC. Here, we show that miR-198 compensation leads to self-release into extracellular vesicles (EVs). Importantly, the vesicular secretion is mediated by autophagy-related pathway, initiated by sequestration of p62/miR-198 complexes in autophagosome-associated vesicle fractions. miR-198 is selectively recognized and loaded by p62 into autophagosomal fractions, whereas mutated miR-198 forms neither induce autophagy and nor interact with p62. Gain and loss of function experiments, using a CRIPR/Cas knockout (KO) and transgenic site-specific p62 mutants, identified p62 as an essential repressor of cellular miR-198 abundancy. Notably, EVs, harboring miR-198/p62 protein complexes, can be uptaken by cells in the close vicinity, leading to change of gene expression in recipient cells. In conclusion, miR-198 enhances autophagy; conversely autophagic protein p62 reduces the miR-198 levels by sorting into extracellular space.

Energetics, kinetics, and pathways of SNARE assembly in membrane fusion

Fusion of transmitter-containing vesicles with plasma membranes at the synaptic and neuromuscular junctions mediates neurotransmission and muscle contractions, respectively, thereby underlying all thoughts and actions. The fusion process is driven by the coupled folding and assembly of three synaptic SNARE proteins--syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25 on the target plasma membrane (t-SNAREs) and VAMP2 on the vesicular membrane (v-SNARE) into a four-helix bundle. Their assembly is chaperoned by Munc18-1 and many other proteins to achieve the speed and accuracy required for neurotransmission. However, the physiological pathway of SNARE assembly and its coupling to membrane fusion remains unclear. Here, we review recent progress in understanding SNARE assembly and membrane fusion, with a focus on results obtained by single-molecule manipulation approaches and electric recordings of single fusion pores. We describe two pathways of synaptic SNARE assembly, their associated intermediates, energetics, and kinetics. Assembly of the three SNAREs in vitro begins with the formation of a t-SNARE binary complex, on which VAMP2 folds in a stepwise zipper-like fashion. Munc18-1 significantly alters the SNARE assembly pathway: syntaxin-1 and VAMP2 first bind on the surface of Munc18-1 to form a template complex, with which SNAP-25 associates to conclude SNARE assembly and displace Munc18-1. During membrane fusion, multiple trans-SNARE complexes cooperate to open a dynamic fusion pore in a manner dependent upon their copy number and zippering states. Together, these results demonstrate that stepwise and cooperative SNARE assembly drive stagewise membrane fusion.

Interspecies complementation identifies a pathway to assemble SNAREs

Unc18 and SNARE proteins form the core of the membrane fusion complex at synapses. To understand the functional interactions within the core machinery, we adopted an "interspecies complementation" approach in Caenorhabditis elegans. Substitutions of individual SNAREs and Unc18 proteins with those from yeast fail to rescue fusion. However, synaptic transmission could be restored in worm-yeast chimeras when two key interfaces were present: an Habc-Unc18 contact site and an Unc18-SNARE motif contact site. A constitutively open form of Unc18 bypasses the requirement for the Habc-Unc18 interface. These data suggest that the Habc domain of syntaxin is required for Unc18 to adopt an open conformation; open Unc18 then templates SNARE complex formation. Finally, we demonstrate that the SNARE and Unc18 machinery in the nematode C. elegans can be replaced by yeast proteins and still carry out synaptic transmission, pointing to the deep evolutionary conservation of these two interfaces.

SNARE assembly enlightened by cryo-EM structures of a synaptobrevin-Munc18-1-syntaxin-1 complex

Munc18-1 forms a template to organize assembly of the neuronal SNARE complex that triggers neurotransmitter release, binding first to a closed conformation of syntaxin-1 where its amino-terminal region interacts with the SNARE motif, and later binding to synaptobrevin. However, the mechanism of SNARE complex assembly remains unclear. Here, we report two cryo-EM structures of Munc18-1 bound to cross-linked syntaxin-1 and synaptobrevin. The structures allow visualization of how syntaxin-1 opens and reveal how part of the syntaxin-1 amino-terminal region can help nucleate interactions between the amino termini of the syntaxin-1 and synaptobrevin SNARE motifs, while their carboxyl termini bind to distal sites of Munc18-1. These observations, together with mutagenesis, SNARE complex assembly experiments, and fusion assays with reconstituted proteoliposomes, support a model whereby these interactions are critical to initiate SNARE complex assembly and multiple energy barriers enable diverse mechanisms for exquisite regulation of neurotransmitter release.

Characterization of the microRNA transcriptomes and proteomics of cochlear tissue-derived small extracellular vesicles from mice of different ages after birth

The cochlea is an important sensory organ for both balance and sound perception, and the formation of the cochlea is a complex developmental process. The development of the mouse cochlea begins on embryonic day (E)9 and continues until postnatal day (P)21 when the hearing system is considered mature. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), with a diameter ranging from 30 to 200 nm, have been considered a significant medium for information communication in both physiological and pathological processes. However, there are no studies exploring the role of sEVs in the development of the cochlea. Here, we isolated tissue-derived sEVs from the cochleae of FVB mice at P3, P7, P14, and P21 by ultracentrifugation. These sEVs were first characterized by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blotting. Next, we used small RNA-seq and mass spectrometry to characterize the microRNA transcriptomes and proteomes of cochlear sEVs from mice at different ages. Many microRNAs and proteins were discovered to be related to inner ear development, anatomical structure development, and auditory nervous system development. These results all suggest that sEVs exist in the cochlea and are likely to be essential for the normal development of the auditory system. Our findings provide many sEV microRNA and protein targets for future studies of the roles of cochlear sEVs.

Single-Molecule Manipulation Study of Chaperoned SNARE Folding and Assembly with Optical Tweezers

Intracellular membrane fusion is primarily driven by coupled folding and assembly of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). SNARE assembly is intrinsically inefficient and must be chaperoned by a family of evolutionarily and structurally conserved Sec1/Munc-18 (SM) proteins. The physiological pathway of the chaperoned SNARE assembly has not been well understood, partly due to the difficulty in dissecting the many intermediates and pathways of SNARE assembly and measure their associated energetics and kinetics. Optical tweezers have proven to be a powerful tool to characterize the intermediates involved in the chaperoned SNARE assembly. Here, we demonstrate the application of optical tweezers combined with a homemade microfluidic system into studies of synaptic SNARE assembly chaperoned by their cognate SM protein Munc18-1. Three synaptic SNAREs and Munc18-1 constitute the core machinery for synaptic vesicle fusion involved in neurotransmitter release. Many other proteins further regulate the core machinery to enable fusion at the right time and location. The methods described here can be applied to other proteins that regulate SNARE assembly to control membrane fusion involved in numerous biological and physiological processes.

Single-molecule manipulation of macromolecules on GUV or SUV membranes using optical tweezers

Despite their wide applications in soluble macromolecules, optical tweezers have rarely been used to characterize the dynamics of membrane proteins, mainly due to the lack of model membranes compatible with optical trapping. Here, we examined optical trapping and mechanical properties of two potential model membranes, giant and small unilamellar vesicles (GUVs and SUVs, respectively) for studies of membrane protein dynamics. We found that optical tweezers can stably trap GUVs containing iodixanol with controlled membrane tension. The trapped GUVs with high membrane tension can serve as a force sensor to accurately detect reversible folding of a DNA hairpin or membrane binding of synaptotagmin-1 C2AB domain attached to the GUV. We also observed that SUVs are rigid enough to resist large pulling forces and are suitable for detecting protein conformational changes induced by force. Our methodologies may facilitate single-molecule manipulation studies of membrane proteins using optical tweezers.

SNARE Regulatory Proteins in Synaptic Vesicle Fusion and Recycling

Membrane fusion is a universal feature of eukaryotic protein trafficking and is mediated by the soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. SNARE proteins embedded in opposing membranes spontaneously assemble to drive membrane fusion and cargo exchange in vitro. Evolution has generated a diverse complement of SNARE regulatory proteins (SRPs) that ensure membrane fusion occurs at the right time and place in vivo. While a core set of SNAREs and SRPs are common to all eukaryotic cells, a specialized set of SRPs within neurons confer additional regulation to synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion. Neuronal communication is characterized by precise spatial and temporal control of SNARE dynamics within presynaptic subdomains specialized for neurotransmitter release. Action potential-elicited Ca²⁺ influx at these release sites triggers zippering of SNAREs embedded in the SV and plasma membrane to drive bilayer fusion and release of neurotransmitters that activate downstream targets. Here we discuss current models for how SRPs regulate SNARE dynamics and presynaptic output, emphasizing invertebrate genetic findings that advanced our understanding of SRP regulation of SV cycling.

Reexamination of N-terminal domains of syntaxin-1 in vesicle fusion from central murine synapses

Syntaxin-1 (STX1) and Munc18-1 are two requisite components of synaptic vesicular release machinery, so much so synaptic transmission cannot proceed in their absence. They form a tight complex through two major binding modes: through STX1’s N-peptide and through STX1’s closed conformation driven by its H_abc- domain. However, physiological roles of these two reportedly different binding modes in synapses are still controversial. Here we characterized the roles of STX1’s N-peptide, H_abc-domain, and open conformation with and without N-peptide deletion using our STX1-null mouse model system and exogenous reintroduction of STX1A mutants. We show, on the contrary to the general view, that the H_abc-domain is absolutely required and N-peptide is dispensable for synaptic transmission. However, STX1A’s N-peptide plays a regulatory role, particularly in the Ca²⁺-sensitivity and the short-term plasticity of vesicular release, whereas STX1’s open conformation governs the vesicle fusogenicity. Strikingly, we also show neurotransmitter release still proceeds when the two interaction modes between STX1A and Munc18-1 are presumably intervened, necessitating a refinement of the conceptualization of STX1A–Munc18-1 interaction.

The neuronal calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 and SNARE proteins cooperate to dilate fusion pores

All membrane fusion reactions proceed through an initial fusion pore, including calcium-triggered release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Expansion of this small pore to release cargo is energetically costly and regulated by cells, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that the neuronal/exocytic calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) promotes expansion of fusion pores induced by SNARE proteins. Pore dilation relied on calcium-induced insertion of the tandem C2 domain hydrophobic loops of Syt1 into the membrane, previously shown to reorient the C2 domain. Mathematical modelling suggests that C2B reorientation rotates a bound SNARE complex so that it exerts force on the membranes in a mechanical lever action that increases the height of the fusion pore, provoking pore dilation to offset the bending energy penalty. We conclude that Syt1 exerts novel non-local calcium-dependent mechanical forces on fusion pores that dilate pores and assist neurotransmitter and hormone release.

Chaperoning SNARE Folding and Assembly

SNARE proteins and Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins constitute the core molecular engine that drives nearly all intracellular membrane fusion and exocytosis. While SNAREs are known to couple their folding and assembly to membrane fusion, the physiological pathways of SNARE assembly and the mechanistic roles of SM proteins have long been enigmatic. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the SNARE-SM fusion machinery with an emphasis on biochemical and biophysical studies of proteins that mediate synaptic vesicle fusion. We begin by discussing the energetics, pathways, and kinetics of SNARE folding and assembly in vitro. Then, we describe diverse interactions between SM and SNARE proteins and their potential impact on SNARE assembly in vivo. Recent work provides strong support for the idea that SM proteins function as chaperones, their essential role being to enable fast, accurate SNARE assembly. Finally, we review the evidence that SM proteins collaborate with other SNARE chaperones, especially Munc13-1, and briefly discuss some roles of SNARE and SM protein deficiencies in human disease.

PTP-MEG2 regulates quantal size and fusion pore opening through two distinct structural bases and substrates

Tyrosine phosphorylation of secretion machinery proteins is a crucial regulatory mechanism for exocytosis. However, the participation of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in different exocytosis stages has not been defined. Here we demonstrate that PTP-MEG2 controls multiple steps of catecholamine secretion. Biochemical and crystallographic analyses reveal key residues that govern the interaction between PTP-MEG2 and its substrate, a peptide containing the phosphorylated NSF-pY⁸³ site, specify PTP-MEG2 substrate selectivity, and modulate the fusion of catecholamine-containing vesicles. Unexpectedly, delineation of PTP-MEG2 mutants along with the NSF binding interface reveals that PTP-MEG2 controls the fusion pore opening through NSF independent mechanisms. Utilizing bioinformatics search and biochemical and electrochemical screening approaches, we uncover that PTP-MEG2 regulates the opening and extension of the fusion pore by dephosphorylating the DYNAMIN2-pY¹²⁵ and MUNC18-1-pY¹⁴⁵ sites. Further structural and biochemical analyses confirmed the interaction of PTP-MEG2 with MUNC18-1-pY¹⁴⁵ or DYNAMIN2-pY¹²⁵ through a distinct structural basis compared with that of the NSF-pY⁸³ site. Our studies thus provide mechanistic insights in complex exocytosis processes.

SNARE Zippering Is Suppressed by a Conformational Constraint that Is Removed by v-SNARE Splitting

Intracellular vesicle fusion is catalyzed by soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). Vesicle-anchored v-SNAREs pair with target membrane-associated t-SNAREs to form trans-SNARE complexes, releasing free energy to drive membrane fusion. However, trans-SNARE complexes are unable to assemble efficiently unless activated by Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins. Here, we demonstrate that SNAREs become fully active when the v-SNARE is split into two fragments, eliminating the requirement of SM protein activation. Mechanistically, v-SNARE splitting accelerates the zippering of trans-SNARE complexes, mimicking the stimulatory function of SM proteins. Thus, SNAREs possess the full potential to drive efficient membrane fusion but are suppressed by a conformational constraint. This constraint is removed by SM protein activation or v-SNARE splitting. We suggest that ancestral SNAREs originally evolved to be fully active in the absence of SM proteins. Later, a conformational constraint coevolved with SM proteins to achieve the vesicle fusion specificity demanded by complex endomembrane systems.

SNAREs are unable to drive efficient membrane fusion unless activated by Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins. In this work, Liu et al. demonstrate that v-SNARE splitting mimics SM protein activation and unleashes the full membrane fusion potential of SNAREs.

Role of Aberrant Spontaneous Neurotransmission in SNAP25-Associated Encephalopathies

SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex, composed of synaptobrevin, syntaxin, and SNAP25, forms the essential fusion machinery for neurotransmitter release. Recent studies have reported several mutations in the gene encoding SNAP25 as a causative factor for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies of infancy and childhood with diverse clinical manifestations. However, it remains unclear how SNAP25 mutations give rise to these disorders. Here, we show that although structurally clustered mutations in SNAP25 give rise to related synaptic transmission phenotypes, specific alterations in spontaneous neurotransmitter release are a key factor to account for disease heterogeneity. Importantly, we identified a single mutation that augments spontaneous release without altering evoked release, suggesting that aberrant spontaneous release is sufficient to cause disease in humans.

STXBP2-R190C Variant in a Patient With Neonatal Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and G6PD Deficiency Reveals a Critical Role of STXBP2 Domain 2 on Granule Exocytosis

Neonatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a medical emergency that can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Often these patients present with familial HLH (f-HLH), which is caused by gene mutations interfering with the cytolytic pathway of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells. Here we describe a male newborn who met the HLH diagnostic criteria, presented with profound cholestasis, and carried a maternally inherited heterozygous mutation in syntaxin-binding protein-2 [STXBP2, c.568C>T (p.Arg190Cys)] in addition to a severe pathogenic variant in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD, hemizygous c.1153T>C (Cys385Arg)]. Although mutations in STXBP2 gene are associated with f-HLH type 5, the clinical and biological relevance of the p.Arg190Cys mutation identified in this patient was uncertain. To assess its role in disease pathogenesis, we performed functional assays and biochemical and microscopic studies. We found that p.Arg190Cys mutation did not alter the expression or subcellular localization of STXBP2 or STX11, neither impaired the STXBP2/STX11 interaction. In contrast, forced expression of the mutated protein into normal CTLs strongly inhibited degranulation and reduced the cytolytic activity outcompeting the effect of endogenous wild-type STXBP2. Interestingly, arginine 190 is located in a structurally conserved region of STXBP2 where other f-HLH-5 mutations have been identified. Collectively, data strongly suggest that STXBP2-R190C is a deleterious variant that may act in a dominant-negative manner by probably stabilizing non-productive interactions between STXBP2/STX11 complex and other still unknown factors such as the membrane surface or Munc13-4 protein and thus impairing the release of cytolytic granules. In addition to the contribution of STXBP2-R190C to f-HLH, the accompanied G6PD mutation may have compounded the clinical symptoms; however, the extent by which G6PD deficiency has contributed to HLH in our patient remains unclear.

Arrangements of proteins at reconstituted synaptic vesicle fusion sites depend on membrane separation

Synaptic vesicle proteins, including N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), Synaptotagmin‐1 and Complexin, are responsible for controlling the synchronised fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane in response to elevated cytosolic calcium levels. A range of structures of SNAREs and their regulatory proteins have been elucidated, but the exact organisation of these proteins at synaptic junction membranes remains elusive. Here, we have used cryoelectron tomography to investigate the arrangement of synaptic proteins in an in vitro reconstituted fusion system. We found that the separation between vesicle and target membranes strongly correlates with the organisation of protein complexes at junctions. At larger membrane separations, protein complexes assume a ‘clustered’ distribution at the docking site, inducing a protrusion in the target membrane. As the membrane separation decreases, protein complexes become displaced radially outwards and assume a ‘ring‐like’ arrangement. Our findings indicate that docked vesicles can possess a wide range of protein complex numbers and be heterogeneous in their protein arrangements.

Munc13 activates the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and enables Munc18-1 to prime SNARE assembly

Priming of synaptic vesicles involves Munc13-catalyzed transition of the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex to the SNARE complex in the presence of SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin-2; Munc13 drives opening of syntaxin-1 via the MUN domain while Munc18-1 primes SNARE assembly via domain 3a. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we have identified a number of residues in domain 3a of Munc18-1 that are crucial for Munc13 and Munc18-1 actions in SNARE complex assembly and synaptic vesicle priming. Our results showed that two residues (Q301/K308) at the side of domain 3a mediate the interaction between the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and the MUN domain. This interaction enables the MUN domain to drive the opening of syntaxin-1 linker region, thereby leading to the extension of domain 3a and promoting synaptobrevin-2 binding. In addition, we identified two residues (K332/K333) at the bottom of domain 3a that mediate the interaction between Munc18-1 and the SNARE motif of syntaxin-1. This interaction ensures Munc18-1 to persistently associate with syntaxin-1 during the conformational change of syntaxin-1 from closed to open, which reinforces the role of Munc18-1 in templating SNARE assembly. Taken together, our data suggest a mechanism by which Munc13 activates the Munc18-1/syntaxin-1 complex and enables Munc18-1 to prime SNARE assembly.

Munc18-1 induces conformational changes of syntaxin-1 in multiple intermediates for SNARE assembly

In neuronal exocytosis, SNARE assembly into a stable four-helix bundle drives membrane fusion. Previous studies have revealed that the SM protein Munc18-1 plays a critical role for precise SNARE assembly with the help of Munc13-1, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used single-molecule FRET assays with a nanodisc membrane reconstitution system to investigate the conformational dynamics of SNARE/Munc18-1 complexes in multiple intermediate steps towards the SNARE complex. We found that single Munc18-1 proteins induce the closed conformation of syntaxin-1 not only in the free syntaxin-1 but also in the t-SNARE (syntaxin-1/SNAP-25) complex. These results implicate that Munc18-1 may act as a gatekeeper for both binary and ternary SNARE complex formation by locking the syntaxin-1 in a cleft of Munc18-1. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis of the opening/closing transition reveals that the closed syntaxin-1 in the syntaxin-1/SNAP-25/Munc18-1 complex is less stable than that in the closed syntaxin-1/Munc18-1 complex, which is manifested by the infrequent closing transition, indicating that the conformational equilibrium of the ternary complex is biased toward the open conformation of syntaxin-1 compared with the binary complex.

Resolving kinetic intermediates during the regulated assembly and disassembly of fusion pores

The opening of a fusion pore during exocytosis creates the first aqueous connection between the lumen of a vesicle and the extracellular space. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) mediate the formation of these dynamic structures, and their kinetic transitions are tightly regulated by accessory proteins at the synapse. Here, we utilize two single molecule approaches, nanodisc-based planar bilayer electrophysiology and single-molecule FRET, to address the relationship between SNARE complex assembly and rapid (micro-millisecond) fusion pore transitions, and to define the role of accessory proteins. Synaptotagmin (syt) 1, a major Ca²⁺-sensor for synaptic vesicle exocytosis, drove the formation of an intermediate: committed trans-SNARE complexes that form large, stable pores. Once open, these pores could only be closed by the action of the ATPase, NSF. Time-resolved measurements revealed that NSF-mediated pore closure occurred via a complex ‘stuttering’ mechanism. This simplified system thus reveals the dynamic formation and dissolution of fusion pores.

SNAREs mediate the formation of a fusion pore during exocytosis which connects the lumen of a vesicle with the extracellular space. Here, authors use single molecule approaches to define the role of synaptotagmin 1 and NSF in synaptic pore formation and dissolution.

Munc13-1 MUN domain and Munc18-1 cooperatively chaperone SNARE assembly through a tetrameric complex

Munc13-1 is a large multifunctional protein essential for synaptic vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. Its dysfunction has been linked to many neurological disorders. Evidence suggests that the MUN domain of Munc13-1 collaborates with Munc18-1 to initiate SNARE assembly, thereby priming vesicles for fast calcium-triggered vesicle fusion. The underlying molecular mechanism, however, is poorly understood. Recently, it was found that Munc18-1 catalyzes neuronal SNARE assembly through an obligate template complex intermediate containing Munc18-1 and 2 SNARE proteins-syntaxin 1 and VAMP2. Here, using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we discovered that the MUN domain of Munc13-1 stabilizes the template complex by ∼2.1 k_BT. The MUN-bound template complex enhances SNAP-25 binding to the templated SNAREs and subsequent full SNARE assembly. Mutational studies suggest that the MUN-bound template complex is functionally important for SNARE assembly and neurotransmitter release. Taken together, our observations provide a potential molecular mechanism by which Munc13-1 and Munc18-1 cooperatively chaperone SNARE folding and assembly, thereby regulating synaptic vesicle fusion.

Single-Molecule Optical Tweezers Study of Regulated SNARE Assembly

Intracellular membrane fusion mediates material and information exchange among different cells or cellular compartments with high accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution. Fusion is driven by ordered folding and assembly of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) receptors (SNAREs) and regulated by many other proteins. Understanding regulated SNARE assembly is key to dissecting mechanisms and physiologies of various fusion processes and their associated diseases. Yet, it remains challenging to study regulated SNARE assembly using traditional ensemble-based experimental approaches. Here, we describe our new method to measure the energy and kinetics of neuronal SNARE assembly in the presence of α-SNAP, using a single-molecule manipulation approach based on high-resolution optical tweezers. Detailed experimental protocols and methods of data analysis are shown. This approach can be widely applied to elucidate the effects of regulatory proteins on SNARE assembly and membrane fusion.

Munc18-1 catalyzes neuronal SNARE assembly by templating SNARE association

Sec1/Munc18-family (SM) proteins are required for SNARE-mediated membrane fusion, but their mechanism(s) of action remain controversial. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we found that the SM protein Munc18-1 catalyzes step-wise zippering of three synaptic SNAREs (syntaxin, VAMP2, and SNAP-25) into a four-helix bundle. Catalysis requires formation of an intermediate template complex in which Munc18-1 juxtaposes the N-terminal regions of the SNARE motifs of syntaxin and VAMP2, while keeping their C-terminal regions separated. SNAP-25 binds the templated SNAREs to induce full SNARE zippering. Munc18-1 mutations modulate the stability of the template complex in a manner consistent with their effects on membrane fusion, indicating that chaperoned SNARE assembly is essential for exocytosis. Two other SM proteins, Munc18-3 and Vps33, similarly chaperone SNARE assembly via a template complex, suggesting that SM protein mechanism is conserved.

Simulations Reveal Multiple Intermediates in the Unzipping Mechanism of Neuronal SNARE Complex

The assembling of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein complex is a fundamental step in neuronal exocytosis, and it has been extensively studied in the last two decades. Yet, many details of this process remain inaccessible with the current experimental space and time resolution. Here, we study the zipping mechanism of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex computationally by using a coarse-grained model. We explore the different pathways available and analyze their dependence on the computational model employed. We reveal and characterize multiple intermediate states, in agreement with previous experimental findings. We use our model to analyze the influence of single-residue mutations on the thermodynamics of the folding process.

The N-peptide-binding mode is critical to Munc18-1 function in synaptic exocytosis

Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins promote intracellular vesicle fusion by binding to N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs). A key SNARE-binding mode of SM proteins involves the N-terminal peptide (N-peptide) motif of syntaxin, a SNARE subunit localized to the target membrane. In in vitro membrane fusion assays, inhibition of N-peptide motif binding previously has been shown to abrogate the stimulatory function of Munc18-1, a SM protein involved in synaptic exocytosis in neurons. The physiological role of the N-peptide-binding mode, however, remains unclear. In this work, we addressed this key question using a "clogged" Munc18-1 protein, in which an ectopic copy of the syntaxin N-peptide motif was directly fused to Munc18-1. We found that the ectopic N-peptide motif blocks the N-peptide-binding pocket of Munc18-1, preventing the latter from binding to the native N-peptide motif on syntaxin-1. In a reconstituted system, we observed that clogged Munc18-1 is defective in promoting SNARE zippering. When introduced into induced neuronal cells (iN cells) derived from human pluripotent stem cells, clogged Munc18-1 failed to mediate synaptic exocytosis. As a result, both spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission was abolished. These genetic findings provide direct evidence for the crucial role of the N-peptide-binding mode of Munc18-1 in synaptic exocytosis. We suggest that clogged SM proteins will also be instrumental in defining the physiological roles of the N-peptide-binding mode in other vesicle-fusion pathways.

Focused clamping of a single neuronal SNARE complex by complexin under high mechanical tension

Neuronal soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) catalyze synaptic vesicle fusion with presynaptic membranes through the formation of SNARE complexes. Complexin (Cpx) is the only presynaptic protein that tightly binds to SNAREs and regulates membrane fusion, but how it modulates the energy landscape of SNARE complex assembly, especially under mechanical tension on the complex, remains unclear. Here, using magnetic tweezers, we report how Cpx interacts with single SNARE complexes. The effects of Cpx manifest only under high mechanical tensions above 13 pN. Cpx stabilizes the central four-helix bundle of SNARE motifs and, at the same time, prevents the complete zippering of SNAREs by inhibiting linker-domain assembly. These results suggest that Cpx generates a focused clamp for the neuronal SNARE complex in a linker-open conformation. Our results provide a hint as to how Cpx cooperates with neuronal SNAREs to prime synaptic vesicles in preparation for synchronous neurotransmitter release.

The SNARE complex enables the fusion of synaptic vesicles with presynaptic membrane via a zippering process that is modulated by the protein complexin, though the precise mechanism remains unclear. Here, the authors used magnetic tweezers to show how complexin prepares a SNARE complex for fusion under mechanical tension.

SNARE zippering requires activation by SNARE-like peptides in Sec1/Munc18 proteins

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) catalyze membrane fusion by forming coiled-coil bundles between membrane bilayers. The SNARE bundle zippers progressively toward the membranes, pulling the lipid bilayers into close proximity to fuse. In this work, we found that the +1 and +2 layers in the C-terminal domains (CTDs) of SNAREs are dispensable for reconstituted SNARE-mediated fusion reactions. By contrast, all CTD layers are required for fusion reactions activated by the cognate Sec1/Munc18 (SM) protein or a synthetic Vc peptide derived from the vesicular (v-) SNARE, correlating with strong acceleration of fusion kinetics. These results suggest a similar mechanism underlying the stimulatory functions of SM proteins and Vc peptide in SNARE-dependent membrane fusion. Unexpectedly, we identified a conserved SNARE-like peptide (SLP) in SM proteins that structurally and functionally resembles Vc peptide. Like Vc peptide, SLP binds and activates target (t-) SNAREs, accelerating the fusion reaction. Disruption of the t-SNARE-SLP interaction inhibits exocytosis in vivo. Our findings demonstrated that a t-SNARE-SLP intermediate must form before SNAREs can drive efficient vesicle fusion.

Reciprocal link between cell biomechanics and exocytosis

A cell is able to sense the biomechanical properties of the environment such as the rigidity of the extracellular matrix and adapt its tension via regulation of plasma membrane and underlying actomyosin meshwork properties. The cell's ability to adapt to the changing biomechanical environment is important for cellular homeostasis and also cell dynamics such as cell growth and motility. Membrane trafficking has emerged as an important mechanism to regulate cell biomechanics. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role of cell mechanics in exocytosis, and reciprocally, the role of exocytosis in regulating cell mechanics. We also discuss how cell mechanics and membrane trafficking, particularly exocytosis, can work together to regulate cell polarity and motility.

Mechanism of neurotransmitter release coming into focus

Research for three decades and major recent advances have provided crucial insights into how neurotransmitters are released by Ca²⁺ -triggered synaptic vesicle exocytosis, leading to reconstitution of basic steps that underlie Ca²⁺ -dependent membrane fusion and yielding a model that assigns defined functions for central components of the release machinery. The soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) syntaxin-1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin-2 form a tight SNARE complex that brings the vesicle and plasma membranes together and is key for membrane fusion. N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs) disassemble the SNARE complex to recycle the SNAREs for another round of fusion. Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 orchestrate SNARE complex formation in an NSF-SNAP-resistant manner by a mechanism whereby Munc18-1 binds to synaptobrevin and to a self-inhibited "closed" conformation of syntaxin-1, thus forming a template to assemble the SNARE complex, and Munc13-1 facilitates assembly by bridging the vesicle and plasma membranes and catalyzing opening of syntaxin-1. Synaptotagmin-1 functions as the major Ca²⁺ sensor that triggers release by binding to membrane phospholipids and to the SNAREs, in a tight interplay with complexins that accelerates membrane fusion. Many of these proteins act as both inhibitors and activators of exocytosis, which is critical for the exquisite regulation of neurotransmitter release. It is still unclear how the actions of these various proteins and multiple other components that control release are integrated and, in particular, how they induce membrane fusion, but it can be expected that these fundamental questions can be answered in the near future, building on the extensive knowledge already available.

Single-molecule force spectroscopy of protein-membrane interactions

Many biological processes rely on protein–membrane interactions in the presence of mechanical forces, yet high resolution methods to quantify such interactions are lacking. Here, we describe a single-molecule force spectroscopy approach to quantify membrane binding of C2 domains in Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) and Extended Synaptotagmin-2 (E-Syt2). Syts and E-Syts bind the plasma membrane via multiple C2 domains, bridging the plasma membrane with synaptic vesicles or endoplasmic reticulum to regulate membrane fusion or lipid exchange, respectively. In our approach, single proteins attached to membranes supported on silica beads are pulled by optical tweezers, allowing membrane binding and unbinding transitions to be measured with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. C2 domains from either protein resisted unbinding forces of 2–7 pN and had binding energies of 4–14 k_BT per C2 domain. Regulation by bilayer composition or Ca²⁺ recapitulated known properties of both proteins. The method can be widely applied to study protein–membrane interactions.

Two Disease-Causing SNAP-25B Mutations Selectively Impair SNARE C-terminal Assembly

Synaptic exocytosis relies on assembly of three soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins into a parallel four-helix bundle to drive membrane fusion. SNARE assembly occurs by stepwise zippering of the vesicle-associated SNARE (v-SNARE) onto a binary SNARE complex on the target plasma membrane (t-SNARE). Zippering begins with slow N-terminal association followed by rapid C-terminal zippering, which serves as a power stroke to drive membrane fusion. SNARE mutations have been associated with numerous diseases, especially neurological disorders. It remains unclear how these mutations affect SNARE zippering, partly due to difficulties to quantify the energetics and kinetics of SNARE assembly. Here, we used single-molecule optical tweezers to measure the assembly energy and kinetics of SNARE complexes containing single mutations I67T/N in neuronal SNARE synaptosomal-associated protein of 25kDa (SNAP-25B), which disrupt neurotransmitter release and have been implicated in neurological disorders. We found that both mutations significantly reduced the energy of C-terminal zippering by ~10 k_BT, but did not affect N-terminal assembly. In addition, we observed that both mutations lead to unfolding of the C-terminal region in the t-SNARE complex. Our findings suggest that both SNAP-25B mutations impair synaptic exocytosis by destabilizing SNARE assembly, rather than stabilizing SNARE assembly as previously proposed. Therefore, our measurements provide insights into the molecular mechanism of the disease caused by SNARE mutations.

Evidence for a conserved inhibitory binding mode between the membrane fusion assembly factors Munc18 and syntaxin in animals

The membrane fusion necessary for vesicle trafficking is driven by the assembly of heterologous SNARE proteins orchestrated by the binding of Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins to specific syntaxin SNARE proteins. However, the precise mode of interaction between SM proteins and SNAREs is debated, as contrasting binding modes have been found for different members of the SM protein family, including the three vertebrate Munc18 isoforms. While different binding modes could be necessary, given their roles in different secretory processes in different tissues, the structural similarity of the three isoforms makes this divergence perplexing. Although the neuronal isoform Munc18a is well-established to bind tightly to both the closed conformation and the N-peptide of syntaxin 1a, thereby inhibiting SNARE complex formation, Munc18b and -c, which have a more widespread distribution, are reported to mainly interact with the N-peptide of their partnering syntaxins and are thought to instead promote SNARE complex formation. We have reinvestigated the interaction between Munc18c and syntaxin 4 (Syx4). Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we found that Munc18c, like Munc18a, binds to both the closed conformation and the N-peptide of Syx4. Furthermore, using a novel kinetic approach, we found that Munc18c, like Munc18a, slows down SNARE complex formation through high-affinity binding to syntaxin. This strongly suggests that secretory Munc18s in general control the accessibility of the bound syntaxin, probably preparing it for SNARE complex assembly.

SNARE proteins in membrane trafficking

SNAREs are the core machinery mediating membrane fusion. In this review, we provide an update on the recent progress on SNAREs regulating membrane fusion events, especially the more detailed fusion processes dissected by well-developed biophysical methods and in vitro single molecule analysis approaches. We also briefly summarize the relevant research from Chinese laboratories and highlight the significant contributions on our understanding of SNARE-mediated membrane trafficking from scientists in China.