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Liu H, Li L, Wang J, Hu J, Xia J, Yu X, Tang J, Liu H, Yang X, Ma C, Kang L, Hu Z. Mechanisms that regulate the C1-C2B mutual inhibition control functional switch of UNC-13. eLife 2025; 14:RP105199. [PMID: 40215098 PMCID: PMC11991699 DOI: 10.7554/elife.105199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Munc13 plays a crucial role in short-term synaptic plasticity by regulating synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis and neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminals. However, the intricate mechanisms governing these processes have remained elusive due to the presence of multiple functional domains within Munc13, each playing distinct roles in neurotransmitter release. Here, we report a coordinated mechanism in the Caenorhabditis elegans Munc13 homolog UNC-13 that controls the functional switch of UNC-13 during synaptic transmission. Mutations disrupting the interactions of C1 and C2B with diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) on the plasma membrane induced the gain-of-function state of UNC-13L, the long UNC-13 isoform, resulting in enhanced SV release. Concurrent mutations in both domains counteracted this enhancement, highlighting the functional interdependence of C1 and C2B. Intriguingly, the individual C1 and C2B domains exhibited significantly stronger facilitation of SV release compared to the presence of both domains, supporting a mutual inhibition of C1 and C2B under basal conditions. Moreover, the N-terminal C2A and X domains exhibited opposite regulation on the functional switch of UNC-13L. Furthermore, we identified the polybasic motif in the C2B domain that facilitates SV release. Finally, we found that disruption of C1 and C2B membrane interaction in UNC-13S, the short isoform, leads to functional switch between gain-of-function and loss-of-function. Collectively, our findings provide a novel mechanism for SV exocytosis wherein UNC-13 undergoes functional switches through the coordination of its major domains, thereby regulating synaptic transmission and short-term synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of SciencesHong KongChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of SciencesHong KongChina
| | - Jiafan Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
| | - Jiayi Hu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
| | - Jingyao Xia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Xiaochun Yu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
| | - Jing Tang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education,School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anChina
| | - Huisheng Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Guangzhou Medical University; Guangzhou National Laboratory; Bioland LaboratoryGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Information Analysis and Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment, Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central Minzu UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Cong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong KongKowloonChina
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Liu H, Li L, Wang J, Hu J, Xia J, Yu X, Liu H, Yang X, Ma C, Kang L, Hu Z. Mechanisms that regulate the C1-C2B mutual inhibition controls functional switch of UNC-13. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.08.12.607578. [PMID: 40161737 PMCID: PMC11952308 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.12.607578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
Munc13 plays a crucial role in short-term synaptic plasticity by regulating synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis and neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic terminals. However, the intricate mechanisms governing these processes have remained elusive due to the presence of multiple functional domains within Munc13, each playing distinct roles in neurotransmitter release. Here we report a coordinated mechanism in the C. elegans Munc13 homolog UNC-13 that controls the functional switch of UNC-13 during synaptic transmission. Mutations disrupting the interactions of C1 and C2B with diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) on the plasma membrane induced the gain-of-function state of UNC-13L, the long UNC-13 isoform, resulting in enhanced SV release. Concurrent mutations in both domains counteracted this enhancement, highlighting the functional interdependence of C1 and C2B. Intriguingly, the individual C1 and C2B domains exhibited significantly stronger facilitation of SV release compared to the presence of both domains, supporting a mutual inhibition of C1 and C2B under basal conditions. Moreover, the N-terminal C2A and X domains exhibited opposite regulation on the functional switch of UNC-13L. Furthermore, we identified the polybasic motif in the C2B domain that facilitates SV release. Finally, we found that disruption of C1 and C2B membrane interaction in UNC-13S, the short isoform, leads to functional switch between gain-of-function and loss-of-function. Collectively, our findings provide a novel mechanism for SV exocytosis wherein UNC-13 undergoes functional switches through the coordination of its major domains, thereby regulating synaptic transmission and short-term synaptic plasticity.
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3
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Xiong A, Richmond JE, Kim H. Presynaptic neurons self-tune by inversely coupling neurotransmitter release with the abundance of CaV2 voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2404969121. [PMID: 39172783 PMCID: PMC11363341 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404969121] [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: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The abundance of CaV2 voltage-gated calcium channels is linked to presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP), a process that recalibrates synaptic strength to maintain the stability of neural circuits. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing PHP and CaV2 channels are not completely understood. Here, we uncover a previously not described form of PHP in Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing an inverse regulatory relationship between the efficiency of neurotransmitter release and the abundance of UNC-2/CaV2 channels. Gain-of-function unc-2SL(S240L) mutants, which carry a mutation analogous to the one causing familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 in humans, showed markedly reduced channel abundance despite increased channel functionality. Reducing synaptic release in these unc-2SL(S240L) mutants restored channel levels to those observed in wild-type animals. Conversely, loss-of-function unc-2DA(D726A) mutants, which harbor the D726A mutation in the channel pore, exhibited a marked increase in channel abundance. Enhancing synaptic release in unc-2DA mutants reversed this increase in channel levels. Importantly, this homeostatic regulation of UNC-2 channel levels is accompanied by the structural remodeling of the active zone (AZ); specifically, unc-2DA mutants, which exhibit increased channel abundance, showed parallel increases in select AZ proteins. Finally, our forward genetic screen revealed that WWP-1, a HECT family E3 ubiquitin ligase, is a key homeostatic mediator that removes UNC-2 from synapses. These findings highlight a self-tuning PHP regulating UNC-2/CaV2 channel abundance along with AZ reorganization, ensuring synaptic strength and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ame Xiong
- Discipline of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL60064
| | - Janet E. Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL60607
| | - Hongkyun Kim
- Discipline of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL60064
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Krout M, Oh KH, Xiong A, Frankel EB, Kurshan PT, Kim H, Richmond JE. C. elegans Clarinet/CLA-1 recruits RIMB-1/RIM-binding protein and UNC-13 to orchestrate presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220856120. [PMID: 37186867 PMCID: PMC10214197 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220856120] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission requires the coordinated activity of multiple synaptic proteins that are localized at the active zone (AZ). We previously identified a Caenorhabditis elegans protein named Clarinet (CLA-1) based on homology to the AZ proteins Piccolo, Rab3-interactingmolecule (RIM)/UNC-10 and Fife. At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), cla-1 null mutants exhibit release defects that are greatly exacerbated in cla-1;unc-10 double mutants. To gain insights into the coordinated roles of CLA-1 and UNC-10, we examined the relative contributions of each to the function and organization of the AZ. Using a combination of electrophysiology, electron microscopy, and quantitative fluorescence imaging we explored the functional relationship of CLA-1 to other key AZ proteins including: RIM1, Cav2.1 channels, RIM1-binding protein, and Munc13 (C. elegans UNC-10, UNC-2, RIMB-1 and UNC-13, respectively). Our analyses show that CLA-1 acts in concert with UNC-10 to regulate UNC-2 calcium channel levels at the synapse via recruitment of RIMB-1. In addition, CLA-1 exerts a RIMB-1-independent role in the localization of the priming factor UNC-13. Thus C. elegans CLA-1/UNC-10 exhibit combinatorial effects that have overlapping design principles with other model organisms: RIM/RBP and RIM/ELKS in mouse and Fife/RIM and BRP/RBP in Drosophila. These data support a semiconserved arrangement of AZ scaffolding proteins that are necessary for the localization and activation of the fusion machinery within nanodomains for precise coupling to Ca2+ channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Krout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
| | - Kelly H. Oh
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology, and Infection, Chicago Medical School, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL60064
| | - Ame Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology, and Infection, Chicago Medical School, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL60064
| | - Elisa B. Frankel
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY10461
| | - Peri T. Kurshan
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY10461
| | - Hongkyun Kim
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY10461
| | - Janet E. Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
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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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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: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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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Mizumoto K, Jin Y, Bessereau JL. Synaptogenesis: unmasking molecular mechanisms using Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 223:iyac176. [PMID: 36630525 PMCID: PMC9910414 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a research model organism particularly suited to the mechanistic understanding of synapse genesis in the nervous system. Armed with powerful genetics, knowledge of complete connectomics, and modern genomics, studies using C. elegans have unveiled multiple key regulators in the formation of a functional synapse. Importantly, many signaling networks display remarkable conservation throughout animals, underscoring the contributions of C. elegans research to advance the understanding of our brain. In this chapter, we will review up-to-date information of the contribution of C. elegans to the understanding of chemical synapses, from structure to molecules and to synaptic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Mizumoto
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yishi Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jean-Louis Bessereau
- Univ Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U 1314, Melis, 69008 Lyon, France
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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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [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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Li L, Liu H, Qian KY, Nurrish S, Zeng XT, Zeng WX, Wang J, Kaplan JM, Tong XJ, Hu Z. CASK and FARP localize two classes of post-synaptic ACh receptors thereby promoting cholinergic transmission. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010211. [PMID: 36279278 PMCID: PMC9632837 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in neurotransmitter receptor abundance at post-synaptic elements play a pivotal role in regulating synaptic strength. For this reason, there is significant interest in identifying and characterizing the scaffolds required for receptor localization at different synapses. Here we analyze the role of two C. elegans post-synaptic scaffolding proteins (LIN-2/CASK and FRM-3/FARP) at cholinergic neuromuscular junctions. Constitutive knockouts or muscle specific inactivation of lin-2 and frm-3 dramatically reduced spontaneous and evoked post-synaptic currents. These synaptic defects resulted from the decreased abundance of two classes of post-synaptic ionotropic acetylcholine receptors (ACR-16/CHRNA7 and levamisole-activated AChRs). LIN-2's AChR scaffolding function is mediated by its SH3 and PDZ domains, which interact with AChRs and FRM-3/FARP, respectively. Thus, our findings show that post-synaptic LIN-2/FRM-3 complexes promote cholinergic synaptic transmission by recruiting AChRs to post-synaptic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kang-Ying Qian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Stephen Nurrish
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xian-Ting Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wan-Xin Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiafan Wang
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Joshua M. Kaplan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xia-Jing Tong
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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10
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The evolution of synaptic and cognitive capacity: Insights from the nervous system transcriptome of Aplysia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122301119. [PMID: 35867761 PMCID: PMC9282427 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122301119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastropod mollusk Aplysia is an important model for cellular and molecular neurobiological studies, particularly for investigations of molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. We developed an optimized assembly pipeline to generate an improved Aplysia nervous system transcriptome. This improved transcriptome enabled us to explore the evolution of cognitive capacity at the molecular level. Were there evolutionary expansions of neuronal genes between this relatively simple gastropod Aplysia (20,000 neurons) and Octopus (500 million neurons), the invertebrate with the most elaborate neuronal circuitry and greatest behavioral complexity? Are the tremendous advances in cognitive power in vertebrates explained by expansion of the synaptic proteome that resulted from multiple rounds of whole genome duplication in this clade? Overall, the complement of genes linked to neuronal function is similar between Octopus and Aplysia. As expected, a number of synaptic scaffold proteins have more isoforms in humans than in Aplysia or Octopus. However, several scaffold families present in mollusks and other protostomes are absent in vertebrates, including the Fifes, Lev10s, SOLs, and a NETO family. Thus, whereas vertebrates have more scaffold isoforms from select families, invertebrates have additional scaffold protein families not found in vertebrates. This analysis provides insights into the evolution of the synaptic proteome. Both synaptic proteins and synaptic plasticity evolved gradually, yet the last deuterostome-protostome common ancestor already possessed an elaborate suite of genes associated with synaptic function, and critical for synaptic plasticity.
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11
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Li L, Liu H, Krout M, Richmond JE, Wang Y, Bai J, Weeratunga S, Collins BM, Ventimiglia D, Yu Y, Xia J, Tang J, Liu J, Hu Z. A novel dual Ca2+ sensor system regulates Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:211787. [PMID: 33570571 PMCID: PMC7883739 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202008121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release requires synaptotagmins as Ca2+ sensors to trigger synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis via binding of their tandem C2 domains—C2A and C2B—to Ca2+. We have previously demonstrated that SNT-1, a mouse synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) homologue, functions as the fast Ca2+ sensor in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we report a new Ca2+ sensor, SNT-3, which triggers delayed Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. snt-1;snt-3 double mutants abolish evoked synaptic transmission, demonstrating that C. elegans NMJs use a dual Ca2+ sensor system. SNT-3 possesses canonical aspartate residues in both C2 domains, but lacks an N-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain. Biochemical evidence demonstrates that SNT-3 binds both Ca2+ and the plasma membrane. Functional analysis shows that SNT-3 is activated when SNT-1 function is impaired, triggering SV release that is loosely coupled to Ca2+ entry. Compared with SNT-1, which is tethered to SVs, SNT-3 is not associated with SV. Eliminating the SV tethering of SNT-1 by removing the TM domain or the whole N terminus rescues fast release kinetics, demonstrating that cytoplasmic SNT-1 is still functional and triggers fast neurotransmitter release, but also exhibits decreased evoked amplitude and release probability. These results suggest that the fast and slow properties of SV release are determined by the intrinsically different C2 domains in SNT-1 and SNT-3, rather than their N-termini–mediated membrane tethering. Our findings therefore reveal a novel dual Ca2+ sensor system in C. elegans and provide significant insights into Ca2+-regulated exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mia Krout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Janet E Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Yu Wang
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Jihong Bai
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Saroja Weeratunga
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brett M Collins
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donovan Ventimiglia
- Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Yi Yu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jingyao Xia
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jing Tang
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jie Liu
- Neuroscience Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Liu H, Li L, Krout M, Sheoran S, Zhao Q, Chen J, Liu H, Richmond JE, Hu Z. Protocols for electrophysiological recordings and electron microscopy at C. elegans neuromuscular junction. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100749. [PMID: 34430921 PMCID: PMC8371263 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Release of neurotransmitters by synaptic vesicle exocytosis at presynaptic terminals is critical for neuronal communication within the nervous system. Electrophysiology and electron microscopy are powerful and complementary approaches used to evaluate the function of synaptic proteins in synaptic transmission. Here, we provide a protocol detailing the use of these two approaches at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions, including steps for worm picking and dissection, in vivo electrophysiological recording, and sample preparation for electron microscopy, followed by imaging and analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liu et al. (2021) and Li et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mia Krout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Seema Sheoran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Qihong Zhao
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Huisheng Liu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Janet E. Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, 4072, Australia
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13
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Sauvola CW, Littleton JT. SNARE Regulatory Proteins in Synaptic Vesicle Fusion and Recycling. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:733138. [PMID: 34421538 PMCID: PMC8377282 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.733138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad W Sauvola
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - J Troy Littleton
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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14
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A unique C2 domain at the C terminus of Munc13 promotes synaptic vesicle priming. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2016276118. [PMID: 33836576 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016276118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission comprises a tightly orchestrated sequence of molecular events, and Munc13-1 is a cornerstone of the fusion machinery. A forward genetic screen for defects in neurotransmitter release in Caenorhabditis elegans identified a mutation in the Munc13-1 ortholog UNC-13 that eliminated its unique and deeply conserved C-terminal module (referred to as HC2M) containing a Ca2+-insensitive C2 domain flanked by membrane-binding helices. The HC2M module could be functionally replaced in vivo by protein domains that localize to synaptic vesicles but not to the plasma membrane. HC2M is broadly conserved in other Unc13 family members and is required for efficient synaptic vesicle priming. We propose that the HC2M domain evolved as a vesicle/endosome adaptor and acquired synaptic vesicle specificity in the Unc13ABC protein family.
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15
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Liu H, Li L, Sheoran S, Yu Y, Richmond JE, Xia J, Tang J, Liu J, Hu Z. The M domain in UNC-13 regulates the probability of neurotransmitter release. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108828. [PMID: 33691106 PMCID: PMC8066380 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses exhibit multiple forms of short-term plasticities, which have been attributed to the heterogeneity of neurotransmitter release probability. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the differential release states remain to be fully elucidated. The Unc-13 proteins appear to have key roles in synaptic function through multiple regulatory domains. Here, we report that deleting the M domain in Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-13MR leads to a significant increase in release probability, revealing an inhibitory function of this domain. The inhibitory effect of this domain is eliminated when the C1 and C2B domains are absent or activated, suggesting that the M domain inhibits release probability by suppressing the activity of C1 and C2B domains. When fused directly to the MUNC2C fragment of UNC-13, the M domain greatly enhances release probability. Thus, our findings reveal a mechanism by which the UNC-13 M domain regulates synaptic transmission and provides molecular insights into the regulation of release probability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Seema Sheoran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Yi Yu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Janet E Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jingyao Xia
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jing Tang
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jie Liu
- Neuroscience Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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16
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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: 3.8] [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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17
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Li L, Liu H, Hall Q, Wang W, Yu Y, Kaplan JM, Hu Z. A Hyperactive Form of unc-13 Enhances Ca 2+ Sensitivity and Synaptic Vesicle Release Probability in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2020; 28:2979-2995.e4. [PMID: 31509756 PMCID: PMC6779330 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Munc13 proteins play several roles in regulating shortterm synaptic plasticity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. Here we report that C. elegans UNC-13L, a Munc13-1 ortholog, has three domains that inhibit synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis. These include the X (sequence between C2A and C1), C1, and C2B domains. Deleting all three inhibitory domains produces a hyperactive UNC-13 (sUNC-13) that exhibits dramatically increased neurotransmitter release, Ca2+ sensitivity of release, and release probability. The vesicular pool in unc-13 mutants rescued by sUNC-13 exhibits a faster synaptic recovery and replenishment rate, demonstrating an important role of sUNC-13 in regulating synaptic plasticity. Analysis of double mutants suggests that sUNC-13 enhances tonic release by increasing the open probability of UNC-64/syntaxin-1A, whereas its effects on evoked release appear to be mediated by additional functions, presumably by further regulating the activity of the assembled soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor activating protein receptor (SNARE) complex. Li et al. identify three domains in UNC-13L that inhibit neurotransmitter release. Removal of the three inhibitory domains produces a hyperactive UNC-13 that dramatically increases Ca2+ sensitivity and release probability of vesicle exocytosis by opening syntaxin in a highly efficient manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Qi Hall
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yi Yu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joshua M Kaplan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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18
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Hendi A, Kurashina M, Mizumoto K. Intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of synapse formation and specificity in C. elegans. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2719-2738. [PMID: 31037336 PMCID: PMC11105629 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03109-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Precise neuronal wiring is critical for the function of the nervous system and is ultimately determined at the level of individual synapses. Neurons integrate various intrinsic and extrinsic cues to form synapses onto their correct targets in a stereotyped manner. In the past decades, the nervous system of nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) has provided the genetic platform to reveal the genetic and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and specificity. In this review, we will summarize the recent discoveries in synapse formation and specificity in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardalan Hendi
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, 2406-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mizuki Kurashina
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, 2406-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kota Mizumoto
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, 2406-2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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