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Gogou C, Beugelink JW, Frias CP, Kresik L, Jaroszynska N, Drescher U, Janssen BJC, Hindges R, Meijer DH. Alternative splicing controls teneurin-3 compact dimer formation for neuronal recognition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3648. [PMID: 38684645 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47763-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuronal network formation is facilitated by recognition between synaptic cell adhesion molecules at the cell surface. Alternative splicing of cell adhesion molecules provides additional specificity in forming neuronal connections. For the teneurin family of cell adhesion molecules, alternative splicing of the EGF-repeats and NHL domain controls synaptic protein-protein interactions. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the compact dimeric ectodomain of two teneurin-3 isoforms that harbour the splice insert in the EGF-repeats. This dimer is stabilised by an EGF8-ABD contact between subunits. Cryo-EM reconstructions of all four splice variants, together with SAXS and negative stain EM, reveal compacted dimers for each, with variant-specific dimeric arrangements. This results in specific trans-cellular interactions, as tested in cell clustering and stripe assays. The compact conformations provide a structural basis for teneurin homo- and heterophilic interactions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate how alternative splicing results in rearrangements of the dimeric subunits, influencing neuronal recognition and likely circuit wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Gogou
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - J Wouter Beugelink
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cátia P Frias
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Leanid Kresik
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Natalia Jaroszynska
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Uwe Drescher
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bert J C Janssen
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Hindges
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dimphna H Meijer
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, Delft, the Netherlands.
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2
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Park SJ, Wang IH, Lee N, Jiang HC, Uemura T, Futai K, Kim D, Macosko E, Greer P. Combinatorial expression of neurexin genes regulates glomerular targeting by olfactory sensory neurons. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.01.587570. [PMID: 38617205 PMCID: PMC11014570 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.01.587570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Precise connectivity between specific neurons is essential for the formation of the complex neural circuitry necessary for executing intricate motor behaviors and higher cognitive functions. While trans -interactions between synaptic membrane proteins have emerged as crucial elements in orchestrating the assembly of these neural circuits, the synaptic surface proteins involved in neuronal wiring remain largely unknown. Here, using unbiased single-cell transcriptomic and mouse genetic approaches, we uncover that the neurexin family of genes enables olfactory sensory neuron (OSNs) axons to form appropriate synaptic connections with their mitral and tufted (M/T) cell synaptic partners, within the mammalian olfactory system. Neurexin isoforms are differentially expressed within distinct populations of OSNs, resulting in unique pattern of neurexin expression that is specific to each OSN type, and synergistically cooperate to regulate axonal innervation, guiding OSN axons to their designated glomeruli. This process is facilitated through the interactions of neurexins with their postsynaptic partners, including neuroligins, which have distinct expression patterns in M/T cells. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism underpinning the precise assembly of olfactory neural circuits, driven by the trans -interaction between neurexins and their ligands.
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3
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Marcó de la Cruz B, Campos J, Molinaro A, Xie X, Jin G, Wei Z, Acuna C, Sterky FH. Liprin-α proteins are master regulators of human presynapse assembly. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:629-642. [PMID: 38472649 PMCID: PMC11001580 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01592-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The formation of mammalian synapses entails the precise alignment of presynaptic release sites with postsynaptic receptors but how nascent cell-cell contacts translate into assembly of presynaptic specializations remains unclear. Guided by pioneering work in invertebrates, we hypothesized that in mammalian synapses, liprin-α proteins directly link trans-synaptic initial contacts to downstream steps. Here we show that, in human neurons lacking all four liprin-α isoforms, nascent synaptic contacts are formed but recruitment of active zone components and accumulation of synaptic vesicles is blocked, resulting in 'empty' boutons and loss of synaptic transmission. Interactions with presynaptic cell adhesion molecules of either the LAR-RPTP family or neurexins via CASK are required to localize liprin-α to nascent synaptic sites. Liprin-α subsequently recruits presynaptic components via a direct interaction with ELKS proteins. Thus, assembly of human presynaptic terminals is governed by a hierarchical sequence of events in which the recruitment of liprin-α proteins by presynaptic cell adhesion molecules is a critical initial step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Marcó de la Cruz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joaquín Campos
- Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angela Molinaro
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Xingqiao Xie
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Biomolecular Assembling and Regulation, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gaowei Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiyi Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Biomolecular Assembling and Regulation, Shenzhen, China
| | - Claudio Acuna
- Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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4
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Andreyev AY, Yang H, Doulias PT, Dolatabadi N, Zhang X, Luevanos M, Blanco M, Baal C, Putra I, Nakamura T, Ischiropoulos H, Tannenbaum SR, Lipton SA. Metabolic Bypass Rescues Aberrant S-nitrosylation-Induced TCA Cycle Inhibition and Synapse Loss in Alzheimer's Disease Human Neurons. Advanced Science 2024; 11:e2306469. [PMID: 38235614 PMCID: PMC10966553 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism is associated with synaptic loss, the major pathological correlate of cognitive decline. Mechanistic insight for this relationship, however, is still lacking. Here, comparing isogenic wild-type and AD mutant human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cerebrocortical neurons (hiN), evidence is found for compromised mitochondrial energy in AD using the Seahorse platform to analyze glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Isotope-labeled metabolic flux experiments revealed a major block in activity in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle at the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (αKGDH)/succinyl coenzyme-A synthetase step, metabolizing α-ketoglutarate to succinate. Associated with this block, aberrant protein S-nitrosylation of αKGDH subunits inhibited their enzyme function. This aberrant S-nitrosylation is documented not only in AD-hiN but also in postmortem human AD brains versus controls, as assessed by two separate unbiased mass spectrometry platforms using both SNOTRAP identification of S-nitrosothiols and chemoselective-enrichment of S-nitrosoproteins. Treatment with dimethyl succinate, a cell-permeable derivative of a TCA substrate downstream to the block, resulted in partial rescue of mitochondrial bioenergetic function as well as reversal of synapse loss in AD-hiN. These findings have therapeutic implications that rescue of mitochondrial energy metabolism can ameliorate synaptic loss in hiPSC-based models of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Y Andreyev
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Northeast Asia Institute of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Paschalis-Thomas Doulias
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Biosciences, University Research Center of Ioannina, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
| | - Nima Dolatabadi
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Melissa Luevanos
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Mayra Blanco
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Christine Baal
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ivan Putra
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Harry Ischiropoulos
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Steven R Tannenbaum
- Northeast Asia Institute of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Stuart A Lipton
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurodegeneration New Medicines Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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5
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Birol M, Muñoz IID, Rhoades E. The C-terminus of α-Synuclein Regulates its Dynamic Cellular Internalization by Neurexin 1β. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:br21. [PMID: 37729016 PMCID: PMC10848939 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-11-0496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of the disordered neuronal protein, α-Synuclein (αS), is the primary pathological feature of Parkinson's disease. Current hypotheses favor cell-to-cell spread of αS species as underlying disease progression, driving interest in identifying the molecular species and cellular processes involved in cellular internalization of αS. Prior work from our lab identified the chemically specific interaction between αS and the presynaptic adhesion protein neurexin-1β (N1β) to be capable of driving cellular internalization of both monomer and aggregated forms of αS. Here we explore the physical basis of N1β-driven internalization of αS. Specifically, we show that spontaneous internalization of αS by SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells expressing N1β requires essentially all of the membrane-binding domain of αS; αS constructs truncated beyond residue 90 bind to N1β in the plasma membrane of HEK cells, but are not internalized. Interestingly, before internalization, αS and N1β codiffuse rapidly in the plasma membrane. αS constructs that are not internalized show very slow mobility themselves, as well as slow N1β diffusion. Finally, we find that truncated αS is capable of blocking internalization of full-length αS. Our results draw attention to the potential therapeutic value of blocking αS-N1β interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Birol
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Max Delbrück Institute for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | | | - Elizabeth Rhoades
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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6
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Sclip A, Südhof TC. Combinatorial expression of neurexins and LAR-type phosphotyrosine phosphatase receptors instructs assembly of a cerebellar circuit. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4976. [PMID: 37591863 PMCID: PMC10435579 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40526-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic adhesion molecules (SAMs) shape the structural and functional properties of synapses and thereby control the information processing power of neural circuits. SAMs are broadly expressed in the brain, suggesting that they may instruct synapse formation and specification via a combinatorial logic. Here, we generate sextuple conditional knockout mice targeting all members of the two major families of presynaptic SAMs, Neurexins and leukocyte common antigen-related-type receptor phospho-tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-PTPRs), which together account for the majority of known trans-synaptic complexes. Using synapses formed by cerebellar Purkinje cells onto deep cerebellar nuclei as a model system, we confirm that Neurexins and LAR-PTPRs themselves are not essential for synapse assembly. The combinatorial deletion of both neurexins and LAR-PTPRs, however, decreases Purkinje-cell synapses on deep cerebellar nuclei, the major output pathway of cerebellar circuits. Consistent with this finding, combined but not separate deletions of neurexins and LAR-PTPRs impair motor behaviors. Thus, Neurexins and LAR-PTPRs are together required for the assembly of a functional cerebellar circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sclip
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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7
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Lloyd BA, Han Y, Roth R, Zhang B, Aoto J. Neurexin-3 subsynaptic densities are spatially distinct from Neurexin-1 and essential for excitatory synapse nanoscale organization in the hippocampus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4706. [PMID: 37543682 PMCID: PMC10404257 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins critical for synaptic transmission are non-uniformly distributed and assembled into regions of high density called subsynaptic densities (SSDs) that transsynaptically align in nanocolumns. Neurexin-1 and neurexin-3 are essential presynaptic adhesion molecules that non-redundantly control NMDAR- and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission, respectively, via transsynaptic interactions with distinct postsynaptic ligands. Despite their functional relevance, fundamental questions regarding the nanoscale properties of individual neurexins, their influence on the subsynaptic organization of excitatory synapses and the mechanisms controlling how individual neurexins engage in precise transsynaptic interactions are unknown. Using Double Helix 3D dSTORM and neurexin mouse models, we identify neurexin-3 as a critical presynaptic adhesion molecule that regulates excitatory synapse nano-organization in hippocampus. Furthermore, endogenous neurexin-1 and neurexin-3 form discrete and non-overlapping SSDs that are enriched opposite their postsynaptic ligands. Thus, the nanoscale organization of neurexin-1 and neurexin-3 may explain how individual neurexins signal in parallel to govern different synaptic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Lloyd
- University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ying Han
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Rebecca Roth
- University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Jason Aoto
- University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Molloy CJ, Cooke J, Gatford NJF, Rivera-Olvera A, Avazzadeh S, Homberg JR, Grandjean J, Fernandes C, Shen S, Loth E, Srivastava DP, Gallagher L. Bridging the translational gap: what can synaptopathies tell us about autism? Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1191323. [PMID: 37441676 PMCID: PMC10333541 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1191323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple molecular pathways and cellular processes have been implicated in the neurobiology of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. There is a current focus on synaptic gene conditions, or synaptopathies, which refer to clinical conditions associated with rare genetic variants disrupting genes involved in synaptic biology. Synaptopathies are commonly associated with autism and developmental delay and may be associated with a range of other neuropsychiatric outcomes. Altered synaptic biology is suggested by both preclinical and clinical studies in autism based on evidence of differences in early brain structural development and altered glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission potentially perturbing excitatory and inhibitory balance. This review focusses on the NRXN-NLGN-SHANK pathway, which is implicated in the synaptic assembly, trans-synaptic signalling, and synaptic functioning. We provide an overview of the insights from preclinical molecular studies of the pathway. Concentrating on NRXN1 deletion and SHANK3 mutations, we discuss emerging understanding of cellular processes and electrophysiology from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) models derived from individuals with synaptopathies, neuroimaging and behavioural findings in animal models of Nrxn1 and Shank3 synaptic gene conditions, and key findings regarding autism features, brain and behavioural phenotypes from human clinical studies of synaptopathies. The identification of molecular-based biomarkers from preclinical models aims to advance the development of targeted therapeutic treatments. However, it remains challenging to translate preclinical animal models and iPSC studies to interpret human brain development and autism features. We discuss the existing challenges in preclinical and clinical synaptopathy research, and potential solutions to align methodologies across preclinical and clinical research. Bridging the translational gap between preclinical and clinical studies will be necessary to understand biological mechanisms, to identify targeted therapies, and ultimately to progress towards personalised approaches for complex neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara J. Molloy
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Cooke
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. F. Gatford
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Rivera-Olvera
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sahar Avazzadeh
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Judith R. Homberg
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Joanes Grandjean
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, School of Medicine, Human Biology Building, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- FutureNeuro, The SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva Loth
- Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- The Hospital for SickKids, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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9
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Fu WY, Ip NY. The role of genetic risk factors of Alzheimer's disease in synaptic dysfunction. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 139:3-12. [PMID: 35918217 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Due to the extended global life expectancy, the prevalence of AD is increasing among aging populations worldwide. While AD is a multifactorial disease, synaptic dysfunction is one of the major neuropathological changes that occur early in AD, before clinical symptoms appear, and is associated with the progression of cognitive deterioration. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms leading to this synaptic dysfunction remains unclear. Recent large-scale genomic analyses have identified more than 40 genetic risk factors that are associated with AD. In this review, we discuss the functional roles of these genes in synaptogenesis and synaptic functions under physiological conditions, and how their functions are dysregulated in AD. This will provide insights into the contributions of these encoded proteins to synaptic dysfunction during AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Yu Fu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nancy Y Ip
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, China.
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10
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de Arce KP, Ribic A, Chowdhury D, Watters K, Thompson GJ, Sanganahalli BG, Lippard ETC, Rohlmann A, Strittmatter SM, Missler M, Hyder F, Biederer T. Concerted roles of LRRTM1 and SynCAM 1 in organizing prefrontal cortex synapses and cognitive functions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:459. [PMID: 36709330 PMCID: PMC9884278 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36042-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple trans-synaptic complexes organize synapse development, yet their roles in the mature brain and cooperation remain unclear. We analyzed the postsynaptic adhesion protein LRRTM1 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region relevant to cognition and disorders. LRRTM1 knockout (KO) mice had fewer synapses, and we asked whether other synapse organizers counteract further loss. This determined that the immunoglobulin family member SynCAM 1 controls synapse number in PFC and was upregulated upon LRRTM1 loss. Combined LRRTM1 and SynCAM 1 deletion substantially lowered dendritic spine number in PFC, but not hippocampus, more than the sum of single KO impairments. Their cooperation extended presynaptically, and puncta of Neurexins, LRRTM1 partners, were less abundant in double KO (DKO) PFC. Electrophysiology and fMRI demonstrated aberrant neuronal activity in DKO mice. Further, DKO mice were impaired in social interactions and cognitive tasks. Our results reveal concerted roles of LRRTM1 and SynCAM 1 across synaptic, network, and behavioral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Perez de Arce
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Neuroscience Department, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adema Ribic
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Katherine Watters
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Garth J Thompson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Elizabeth T C Lippard
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Astrid Rohlmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephen M Strittmatter
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Markus Missler
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Thomas Biederer
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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11
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Lin PY, Chen LY, Jiang M, Trotter JH, Seigneur E, Südhof TC. Neurexin-2: An inhibitory neurexin that restricts excitatory synapse formation in the hippocampus. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadd8856. [PMID: 36608123 PMCID: PMC9821874 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Neurexins are widely thought to promote synapse formation and to organize synapse properties. Here we found that in contrast to neurexin-1 and neurexin-3, neurexin-2 unexpectedly restricts synapse formation. In the hippocampus, constitutive or neuron-specific deletions of neurexin-2 nearly doubled the strength of excitatory CA3➔CA1 region synaptic connections and markedly increased their release probability. No effect on inhibitory synapses was detected. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) superresolution microscopy revealed that the neuron-specific neurexin-2 deletion elevated the density of excitatory CA1 region synapses nearly twofold. Moreover, hippocampal neurexin-2 deletions also increased synaptic connectivity in the CA1 region when induced in mature mice and impaired the cognitive flexibility of spatial memory. Thus, neurexin-2 controls the dynamics of hippocampal synaptic circuits by repressing synapse assembly throughout life, a restrictive function that markedly differs from that of neurexin-1 and neurexin-3 and of other synaptic adhesion molecules, suggesting that neurexins evolutionarily diverged into opposing pro- and antisynaptogenic organizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yi Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lulu Y. Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Man Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Justin H. Trotter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Erica Seigneur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Thomas C. Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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12
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Pastore F, Battistoni M, Sollazzo R, Renna P, Paciello F, Li Puma DD, Barone E, Dagliyan O, Ripoli C, Grassi C. A Bioengineering Strategy to Control ADAM10 Activity in Living Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:917. [PMID: 36674432 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 10, also known as ADAM10, is a cell surface protease ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells where it cuts several membrane proteins implicated in multiple physiological processes. The dysregulation of ADAM10 expression and function has been implicated in pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although it has been suggested that ADAM10 is expressed as a zymogen and the removal of the prodomain results in its activation, other potential mechanisms for the ADAM10 proteolytic function and activation remain unclear. Another suggested mechanism is post-translational modification of the cytoplasmic domain, which regulates ADAM10-dependent protein ectodomain shedding. Therefore, the precise and temporal activation of ADAM10 is highly desirable to reveal the fine details of ADAM10-mediated cleavage mechanisms and protease-dependent therapeutic applications. Here, we present a strategy to control prodomain and cytosolic tail cleavage to regulate ADAM10 shedding activity without the intervention of small endogenous molecule signaling pathways. We generated a series of engineered ADAM10 analogs containing Tobacco Etch Virus protease (TEV) cleavage site (TEVcs), rendering ADAM10 cleavable by TEV. This strategy revealed that, in the absence of other stimuli, the TEV-mediated removal of the prodomain could not activate ADAM10. However, the TEV-mediated cleavage of the cytosolic domain significantly increased ADAM10 activity. Then, we generated ADAM10 with a minimal constitutively catalytic activity that increased significantly in the presence of TEV or after activating a chemically activatable TEV. Our results revealed a bioengineering strategy for controlling the ADAM10 activity in living cells, paving the way to obtain spatiotemporal control of ADAM10. Finally, we proved that our approach of controlling ADAM10 promoted α-secretase activity and the non-amyloidogenic cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), thereby increasing the production of the neuroprotective soluble ectodomain (sAPPα). Our bioengineering strategy has the potential to be exploited as a next-generation gene therapy for AD.
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13
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Zöldi M, Katona I. STORM Super-Resolution Imaging of CB 1 Receptors in Tissue Preparations. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2576:437-451. [PMID: 36152208 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2728-0_36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) opened new possibilities to study the spatial arrangement of molecular distribution and disease-associated redistribution at a previously unprecedented resolution that was not achievable with optical microscopy approaches. Recent discoveries based on SMLM techniques uncovered specific nanoscale organizational principles of signaling proteins in several biological systems including the chemical synapses in the brain. Emerging data suggest that the spatial arrangement of the molecular players of the endocannabinoid system is also precisely regulated at the nanoscale level in synapses and in other neuronal and glial subcellular compartments. The precise nanoscale distribution pattern is likely to be important to subserve several specific signaling functions of this important messenger system in a cell-type- and subcellular domain-specific manner.STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) is an especially suitable SMLM modality for cell-type-specific nanoscale molecular imaging due to its compatibility with traditional diffraction-limited microscopy approaches and classical staining methods. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for STORM imaging in mouse brain tissue samples with a focus on the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, one of the most abundant synaptic receptors in the brain. We also summarize important conceptual and methodical details that are essential for the valid interpretation of single-molecule localization microscopy data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Zöldi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, IN, USA
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Katona
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, IN, USA.
- Momentum Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
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14
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Noborn F, Sterky FH. Role of neurexin heparan sulfate in the molecular assembly of synapses - expanding the neurexin code? FEBS J 2023; 290:252-265. [PMID: 34699130 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Synapses are the minimal information processing units of the brain and come in many flavors across distinct circuits. The shape and properties of a synapse depend on its molecular organisation, which is thought to largely depend on interactions between cell adhesion molecules across the synaptic cleft. An established example is that of presynaptic neurexins and their interactions with structurally diverse postsynaptic ligands: the diversity of neurexin isoforms that arise from alternative promoters and alternative splicing specify synaptic properties by dictating ligand preference. The recent finding that a majority of neurexin isoforms exist as proteoglycans with a single heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharide adds to this complexity. Sequence motifs within the HS polysaccharide may differ between neuronal cell types to contribute specificity to its interactions, thereby expanding the coding capacity of neurexin diversity. However, an expanding number of HS-binding proteins have been found capable to recruit neurexins via the HS chain, challenging the concept of a code provided by neurexin splice isoforms. Here we discuss the possible roles of the neurexin HS in light of what is known from other HS-protein interactions, and propose a model for how the neurexin HS polysaccharide may contribute to synaptic assembly. We also discuss how the neurexin HS may be regulated by co-secreted carbonic anhydrase-related and FAM19A proteins, and highlight some key issues that should be resolved to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Noborn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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15
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Abstract
Since the discovery of neurexins (Nrxns) as essential and evolutionarily conserved synaptic adhesion molecules, focus has largely centered on their functional contributions to glutamatergic synapses. Recently, significant advances to our understanding of neurexin function at GABAergic synapses have revealed that neurexins can play pleiotropic roles in regulating inhibitory synapse maintenance and function in a brain-region and synapse-specific manner. GABAergic neurons are incredibly diverse, exhibiting distinct synaptic properties, sites of innervation, neuromodulation, and plasticity. Different classes of GABAergic neurons often express distinct repertoires of Nrxn isoforms that exhibit differential alternative exon usage. Further, Nrxn ligands can be differentially expressed and can display synapse-specific localization patterns, which may contribute to the formation of a complex trans-synaptic molecular code that establishes the properties of inhibitory synapse function and properties of local circuitry. In this review, we will discuss how Nrxns and their ligands sculpt synaptic inhibition in a brain-region, cell-type and synapse-specific manner.
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16
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Nozawa K, Sogabe T, Hayashi A, Motohashi J, Miura E, Arai I, Yuzaki M. In vivo nanoscopic landscape of neurexin ligands underlying anterograde synapse specification. Neuron 2022; 110:3168-3185.e8. [PMID: 36007521 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Excitatory synapses are formed and matured by the cooperative actions of synaptic organizers, such as neurexins (Nrxns), neuroligins (Nlgns), LRRTMs, and Cbln1. Recent super-resolution nanoscopy developments have revealed that many synaptic organizers, as well as glutamate receptors and glutamate release machinery, exist as nanoclusters within synapses. However, it is unclear how such nanodomains interact with each other to organize excitatory synapses in vivo. By applying X10 expansion microscopy to epitope tag knockin mice, we found that Cbln1, Nlgn1, and LRRTM1, which share Nrxn as a common presynaptic receptor, form overlapping or separate nanodomains depending on Nrxn with or without a sequence encoded by splice site 4. The size and position of glutamate receptor nanodomains of GluD1, NMDA, and AMPA receptors were regulated by Cbln1, Nlgn1, and LRRTM1 nanodomains, respectively. These findings indicate that Nrxns anterogradely regulate the postsynaptic nanoscopic architecture of glutamate receptors through competition and coordination of Nrxn ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Nozawa
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Taku Sogabe
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ayumi Hayashi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Junko Motohashi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Eriko Miura
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Itaru Arai
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Michisuke Yuzaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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17
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Chaves Filho AJM, Mottin M, Lós DB, Andrade CH, Macedo DS. The tetrapartite synapse in neuropsychiatric disorders: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as promising targets for treatment and rational drug design. Biochimie 2022; 201:79-99. [PMID: 35931337 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation and an exacerbated immune response are widely accepted contributing mechanisms to the genesis and progression of major neuropsychiatric disorders. However, despite the impressive advances in understanding the neurobiology of these disorders, there is still no approved drug directly linked to the regulation of inflammation or brain immune responses. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) comprise a group of structurally related endopeptidases primarily involved in remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM). In the central nervous system (CNS), these proteases control synaptic plasticity and strength, patency of the blood-brain barrier, and glia-neuron interactions through cleaved and non-cleaved mediators. Several pieces of evidence have pointed to a complex scenario of MMPs dysregulation triggered by neuroinflammation. Furthermore, major psychiatric disorders' affective symptoms and neurocognitive abnormalities are related to MMPs-mediated ECM changes and neuroglia activation. In the past decade, research efforts have been directed to broad-spectrum MMPs inhibitors with frustrating clinical results. However, in the light of recent advances in combinatorial chemistry and drug design technologies, specific and CNS-oriented MMPs modulators have been proposed as a new frontier of therapy for regulating ECM properties in the CNS. Therefore, here we aim to discuss the state of the art of MMPs and ECM abnormalities in major neuropsychiatric disorders, namely depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, the possible neuro-immune interactions involved in this complex scenario of MMPs dysregulation and propose these endopeptidases as promising targets for rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano José Maia Chaves Filho
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design - LabMol, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - Melina Mottin
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design - LabMol, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Deniele Bezerra Lós
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design - LabMol, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Danielle S Macedo
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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18
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Heuser JE. The Structural Basis of Long-Term Potentiation in Hippocampal Synapses, Revealed by Electron Microscopy Imaging of Lanthanum-Induced Synaptic Vesicle Recycling. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:920360. [PMID: 35978856 PMCID: PMC9376242 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.920360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal neurons in dissociated cell cultures were exposed to the trivalent cation lanthanum for short periods (15–30 min) and prepared for electron microscopy (EM), to evaluate the stimulatory effects of this cation on synaptic ultrastructure. Not only were characteristic ultrastructural changes of exaggerated synaptic vesicle turnover seen within the presynapses of these cultures—including synaptic vesicle depletion and proliferation of vesicle-recycling structures—but the overall architecture of a large proportion of the synapses in the cultures was dramatically altered, due to large postsynaptic “bulges” or herniations into the presynapses. Moreover, in most cases, these postsynaptic herniations or protrusions produced by lanthanum were seen by EM to distort or break or “perforate” the so-called postsynaptic densities (PSDs) that harbor receptors and recognition molecules essential for synaptic function. These dramatic EM observations lead us to postulate that such PSD breakages or “perforations” could very possibly create essential substrates or “tags” for synaptic growth, simply by creating fragmented free edges around the PSDs, into which new receptors and recognition molecules could be recruited more easily, and thus, they could represent the physical substrate for the important synaptic growth process known as “long-term potentiation” (LTP). All of this was created simply in hippocampal dissociated cell cultures, and simply by pushing synaptic vesicle recycling way beyond its normal limits with the trivalent cation lanthanum, but we argued in this report that such fundamental changes in synaptic architecture—given that they can occur at all—could also occur at the extremes of normal neuronal activity, which are presumed to lead to learning and memory.
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19
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Li H, Guo R, Guan Y, Li J, Wang Y. Modulation of Trans-Synaptic Neurexin-Neuroligin Interaction in Pathological Pain. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121940. [PMID: 35741069 PMCID: PMC9222181 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses serve as the interface for the transmission of information between neurons in the central nervous system. The structural and functional characteristics of synapses are highly dynamic, exhibiting extensive plasticity that is shaped by neural activity and regulated primarily by trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs). Prototypical trans-synaptic CAMs, such as neurexins (Nrxs) and neuroligins (Nlgs), directly regulate the assembly of presynaptic and postsynaptic molecules, including synaptic vesicles, active zone proteins, and receptors. Therefore, the trans-synaptic adhesion mechanisms mediated by Nrx-Nlg interaction can contribute to a range of synaptopathies in the context of pathological pain and other neurological disorders. The present review provides an overview of the current understanding of the roles of Nrx-Nlg interaction in the regulation of trans-synaptic connections, with a specific focus on Nrx and Nlg structures, the dynamic shaping of synaptic function, and the dysregulation of Nrx-Nlg in pathological pain. Additionally, we discuss a range of proteins capable of modulating Nrx-Nlg interactions at the synaptic cleft, with the objective of providing a foundation to guide the future development of novel therapeutic agents for managing pathological pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China;
| | - Ruijuan Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100030, China;
| | - Yun Guan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Junfa Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-85231463
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20
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Gormal RS, Meunier FA. Nanoscale organization of the pre-synapse: Tracking the neurotransmitter release machinery. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 75:102576. [PMID: 35716557 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication is underpinned by the fusion of neurotransmitter-containing synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane at active zones. With the advent of super-resolution microscopy, the door is now opened to unravel the dynamic remodeling of synapses underpinning learning and memory. Imaging proteins with conventional light microscopy cannot provide submicron information vital to determining the nanoscale organization of the synapse. We will first review the current super-resolution microscopy techniques available to investigate the localization and movement of synaptic proteins and how they have been applied to visualize the synapse. We discuss the new techniques and analytical approaches have provided comprehensive insights into synaptic organization in various model systems. Finally, this review provides a brief update on how these super-resolution techniques and analyses have opened the way to a much greater understanding of the synapse, the fusion and compensatory endocytosis machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Gormal
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia. https://twitter.com/rachelgormal
| | - Frédéric A Meunier
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
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21
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Gou X, Ramsey AM, Tang A. Re-examination of the determinants of synaptic strength from the perspective of superresolution imaging. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 74:102540. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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22
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Chen A, Kang Y, Liu J, Wu J, Feng X, Wang M, Zhang Y, Wang R, Lai X, Shao L. Improvement of synaptic plasticity by nanoparticles and the related mechanisms: Applications and prospects. J Control Release 2022; 347:143-63. [PMID: 35513209 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.04.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is an important basis of learning and memory and participates in brain network remodelling after different types of brain injury (such as that caused by neurodegenerative diseases, cerebral ischaemic injury, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychiatric disorders). Therefore, improving synaptic plasticity is particularly important for the treatment of nervous system-related diseases. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, increasing evidence has shown that nanoparticles (NPs) can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in different ways, directly or indirectly act on nerve cells, regulate synaptic plasticity, and ultimately improve nerve function. Therefore, to better elucidate the effect of NPs on synaptic plasticity, we review evidence showing that NPs can improve synaptic plasticity by regulating different influencing factors, such as neurotransmitters, receptors, presynaptic membrane proteins and postsynaptic membrane proteins, and further discuss the possible mechanism by which NPs improve synaptic plasticity. We conclude that NPs can improve synaptic plasticity and restore the function of damaged nerves by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, inducing autophagy, and regulating ion channels on the cell membrane. By reviewing the mechanism by which NPs regulate synaptic plasticity and the applications of NPs for the treatment of neurological diseases, we also propose directions for future research in this field and provide an important reference for follow-up research.
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23
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Hauser D, Behr K, Konno K, Schreiner D, Schmidt A, Watanabe M, Bischofberger J, Scheiffele P. Targeted proteoform mapping uncovers specific Neurexin-3 variants required for dendritic inhibition. Neuron 2022; 110:2094-2109.e10. [PMID: 35550065 PMCID: PMC9275415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The diversification of cell adhesion molecules by alternative splicing is proposed to underlie molecular codes for neuronal wiring. Transcriptomic approaches mapped detailed cell-type-specific mRNA splicing programs. However, it has been hard to probe the synapse-specific localization and function of the resulting protein splice isoforms, or “proteoforms,” in vivo. We here apply a proteoform-centric workflow in mice to test the synapse-specific functions of the splice isoforms of the synaptic adhesion molecule Neurexin-3 (NRXN3). We uncover a major proteoform, NRXN3 AS5, that is highly expressed in GABAergic interneurons and at dendrite-targeting GABAergic terminals. NRXN3 AS5 abundance significantly diverges from Nrxn3 mRNA distribution and is gated by translation-repressive elements. Nrxn3 AS5 isoform deletion results in a selective impairment of dendrite-targeting interneuron synapses in the dentate gyrus without affecting somatic inhibition or glutamatergic perforant-path synapses. This work establishes cell- and synapse-specific functions of a specific neurexin proteoform and highlights the importance of alternative splicing regulation for synapse specification. Translational regulation guides alternative Neurexin proteoform expression NRXN3 AS5 proteoforms are concentrated at dendrite-targeting interneuron synapses A proteome-centric workflow uncovers NRXN3 AS5 interactors in vivo Loss of NRXN3 AS5 leads to selective impairments in dendritic inhibition
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hauser
- Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Behr
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Pestalozzistrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kohtarou Konno
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Dietmar Schreiner
- Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Schmidt
- Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Josef Bischofberger
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Pestalozzistrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Scheiffele
- Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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24
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Toledo A, Letellier M, Bimbi G, Tessier B, Daburon S, Favereaux A, Chamma I, Vennekens K, Vanderlinden J, Sainlos M, de Wit J, Choquet D, Thoumine O. MDGAs are fast-diffusing molecules that delay excitatory synapse development by altering neuroligin behavior. eLife 2022; 11:75233. [PMID: 35532105 PMCID: PMC9084894 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
MDGA molecules can bind neuroligins and interfere with trans-synaptic interactions to neurexins, thereby impairing synapse development. However, the subcellular localization and dynamics of MDGAs, or their specific action mode in neurons remain unclear. Here, surface immunostaining of endogenous MDGAs and single molecule tracking of recombinant MDGAs in dissociated hippocampal neurons reveal that MDGAs are homogeneously distributed and exhibit fast membrane diffusion, with a small reduction in mobility across neuronal maturation. Knocking-down/out MDGAs using shRNAs and CRISPR/Cas9 strategies increases the density of excitatory synapses, the membrane confinement of neuroligin-1, and the phosphotyrosine level of neuroligins associated with excitatory post-synaptic differentiation. Finally, MDGA silencing reduces the mobility of AMPA receptors, increases the frequency of miniature EPSCs (but not IPSCs), and selectively enhances evoked AMPA-receptor-mediated EPSCs in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Overall, our results support a mechanism by which interactions between MDGAs and neuroligin-1 delays the assembly of functional excitatory synapses containing AMPA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Toledo
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Mathieu Letellier
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Giorgia Bimbi
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Béatrice Tessier
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Sophie Daburon
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Alexandre Favereaux
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Ingrid Chamma
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Kristel Vennekens
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research and KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute
| | - Jeroen Vanderlinden
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research and KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute
| | - Matthieu Sainlos
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
| | - Joris de Wit
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research and KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute
| | - Daniel Choquet
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UAR 3420, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center
| | - Olivier Thoumine
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5297, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience
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25
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Lim D, Kim D, Um JW, Ko J. Reassessing synaptic adhesion pathways. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:517-528. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Zhang X, Lin PY, Liakath-Ali K, Südhof TC. Teneurins assemble into presynaptic nanoclusters that promote synapse formation via postsynaptic non-teneurin ligands. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2297. [PMID: 35484136 PMCID: PMC9050732 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29751-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies concluded that homophilic interactions between pre- and postsynaptic teneurins, evolutionarily conserved cell-adhesion molecules, encode the specificity of synaptic connections. However, no direct evidence is available to demonstrate that teneurins are actually required on both pre- and postsynaptic neurons for establishing synaptic connections, nor is it known whether teneurins are localized to synapses. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate that Teneurin-3 assembles into presynaptic nanoclusters of approximately 80 nm in most excitatory synapses of the hippocampus. Presynaptic deletions of Teneurin-3 and Teneurin-4 in the medial entorhinal cortex revealed that they are required for assembly of entorhinal cortex-CA1, entorhinal cortex-subiculum, and entorhinal cortex-dentate gyrus synapses. Postsynaptic deletions of teneurins in the CA1 region, however, had no effect on synaptic connections from any presynaptic input. Our data suggest that different from the current prevailing view, teneurins promote the establishment of synaptic connections exclusively as presynaptic cell-adhesion molecules, most likely via their nanomolar-affinity binding to postsynaptic latrophilins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuchen Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Pei-Yi Lin
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Kif Liakath-Ali
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Thomas C. Südhof
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
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27
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Lagardère M, Drouet A, Sainlos M, Thoumine O. High-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging Combined With Computer Simulations to Quantitate Surface Dynamics and Nanoscale Organization of Neuroligin-1 at Synapses. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2022; 14:835427. [PMID: 35546899 PMCID: PMC9083120 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2022.835427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroligins (NLGNs) form a family of cell adhesion molecules implicated in synapse development, but the mechanisms that retain these proteins at synapses are still incompletely understood. Recent studies indicate that surface-associated NLGN1 is diffusionally trapped at synapses, where it interacts with quasi-static scaffolding elements of the post-synaptic density. Whereas single molecule tracking reveals rapid diffusion and transient immobilization of NLGN1 at synapses within seconds, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments indicate instead a long-term turnover of NLGN1 at synapse, in the hour time range. To gain insight into the mechanisms supporting NLGN1 anchorage at post-synapses and try to reconcile those experimental paradigms, we quantitatively analyzed here live-cell and super-resolution imaging experiments performed on NLGN1 using a newly released simulator of membrane protein dynamics for fluorescence microscopy, FluoSim. Based on a small set of parameters including diffusion coefficients, binding constants, and photophysical rates, the framework describes fairly well the dynamic behavior of extra-synaptic and synaptic NLGN1 over both short and long time ranges, and provides an estimate of NLGN1 copy numbers in post-synaptic densities at steady-state (around 50 dimers). One striking result is that the residence time of NLGN1 at synapses is much longer than what can be expected from extracellular interactions with pre-synaptic neurexins only, suggesting that NLGN1 is stabilized at synapses through multivalent interactions with intracellular post-synaptic scaffolding proteins.
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Gatford NJF, Deans PJM, Duarte RRR, Chennell G, Sellers KJ, Raval P, Srivastava DP. Neuroligin-3 and neuroligin-4X form nanoscopic clusters and regulate growth cone organization and size. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:674-691. [PMID: 34542148 PMCID: PMC8895740 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell-adhesion proteins neuroligin-3 and neuroligin-4X (NLGN3/4X) have well described roles in synapse formation. NLGN3/4X are also expressed highly during neurodevelopment. However, the role these proteins play during this period is unknown. Here we show that NLGN3/4X localized to the leading edge of growth cones where it promoted neuritogenesis in immature human neurons. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that NLGN3/4X clustering induced growth cone enlargement and influenced actin filament organization. Critically, these morphological effects were not induced by autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated NLGN3/4X variants. Finally, actin regulators p21-activated kinase 1 and cofilin were found to be activated by NLGN3/4X and involved in mediating the effects of these adhesion proteins on actin filaments, growth cones and neuritogenesis. These data reveal a novel role for NLGN3 and NLGN4X in the development of neuronal architecture, which may be altered in the presence of ASD-associated variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J F Gatford
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - P J Michael Deans
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rodrigo R R Duarte
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - George Chennell
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Katherine J Sellers
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pooja Raval
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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29
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Deng K, Thorn P. Presynaptic-like mechanisms and the control of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. Cell Calcium 2022; 104:102585. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2022.102585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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30
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Ferdos S, Brockhaus J, Missler M, Rohlmann A. Deletion of β-Neurexins in Mice Alters the Distribution of Dense-Core Vesicles in Presynapses of Hippocampal and Cerebellar Neurons. Front Neuroanat 2022; 15:757017. [PMID: 35173587 PMCID: PMC8841415 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.757017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication between neurons through synapses includes the release of neurotransmitter-containing synaptic vesicles (SVs) and of neuromodulator-containing dense-core vesicles (DCVs). Neurexins (Nrxns), a polymorphic family of cell surface molecules encoded by three genes in vertebrates (Nrxn1–3), have been proposed as essential presynaptic organizers and as candidates for cell type-specific or even synapse-specific regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. However, it remains unknown whether Nrxns also regulate DCVs. Here, we report that at least β-neurexins (β-Nrxns), an extracellularly smaller Nrxn variant, are involved in the distribution of presynaptic DCVs. We found that conditional deletion of all three β-Nrxn isoforms in mice by lentivirus-mediated Cre recombinase expression in primary hippocampal neurons reduces the number of ultrastructurally identified DCVs in presynaptic boutons. Consistently, colabeling against marker proteins revealed a diminished population of chromogranin A- (ChrgA-) positive DCVs in synapses and axons of β-Nrxn-deficient neurons. Moreover, we validated the impaired DCV distribution in cerebellar brain tissue from constitutive β-Nrxn knockout (β-TKO) mice, where DCVs are normally abundant and β-Nrxn isoforms are prominently expressed. Finally, we observed that the ultrastructure and marker proteins of the Golgi apparatus, responsible for packaging neuropeptides into DCVs, seem unchanged. In conclusion, based on the validation from the two deletion strategies in conditional and constitutive KO mice, two neuronal populations from the hippocampus and cerebellum, and two experimental protocols in cultured neurons and in the brain tissue, this study presented morphological evidence that the number of DCVs at synapses is altered in the absence of β-Nrxns. Our results therefore point to an unexpected contribution of β-Nrxns to the organization of neuropeptide and neuromodulator function, in addition to their more established role in synaptic vesicle release.
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31
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Boxer EE, Seng C, Lukacsovich D, Kim J, Schwartz S, Kennedy MJ, Földy C, Aoto J. Neurexin-3 defines synapse- and sex-dependent diversity of GABAergic inhibition in ventral subiculum. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110098. [PMID: 34879268 PMCID: PMC8763380 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ventral subiculum (vSUB) is integral to the regulation of stress and reward; however, the intrinsic connectivity and synaptic properties of the inhibitory local circuit are poorly understood. Neurexin-3 (Nrxn3) is highly expressed in hippocampal inhibitory neurons, but its function at inhibitory synapses has remained elusive. Using slice electrophysiology, imaging, and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identify multiple roles for Nrxn3 at GABAergic parvalbumin (PV) interneuron synapses made onto vSUB regular-spiking (RS) and burst-spiking (BS) principal neurons. Surprisingly, we find that intrinsic connectivity of vSUB and synaptic function of Nrxn3 in vSUB are sexually dimorphic. We reveal that PVs make preferential contact with RS neurons in male mice, but BS neurons in female mice. Furthermore, we determine that despite comparable Nrxn3 isoform expression in male and female PV neurons, Nrxn3 knockout impairs synapse density, postsynaptic strength, and inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) amplitude at PV-RS synapses in males, but enhances presynaptic release and IPSC amplitude in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Boxer
- University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Charlotte Seng
- Laboratory of Neural Connectivity, Brain Research Institute, Faculties of Medicine and Science, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Lukacsovich
- Laboratory of Neural Connectivity, Brain Research Institute, Faculties of Medicine and Science, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - JungMin Kim
- University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Samantha Schwartz
- University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Matthew J Kennedy
- University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Csaba Földy
- Laboratory of Neural Connectivity, Brain Research Institute, Faculties of Medicine and Science, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jason Aoto
- University of Colorado Anschutz, Department of Pharmacology, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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32
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Padmanabhan P, Kneynsberg A, Götz J. Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:723-40. [PMID: 34725519 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00531-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The synapse has emerged as a critical neuronal structure in the degenerative process of Alzheimer disease (AD), in which the pathogenic signals of two key players - amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau - converge, thereby causing synaptic dysfunction and cognitive deficits. The synapse presents a dynamic, confined microenvironment in which to explore how key molecules travel, localize, interact and assume different levels of organizational complexity, thereby affecting neuronal function. However, owing to their small size and the diffraction-limited resolution of conventional light microscopic approaches, investigating synaptic structure and dynamics has been challenging. Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) techniques have overcome the resolution barrier and are revolutionizing our quantitative understanding of biological systems in unprecedented spatio-temporal detail. Here we review critical new insights provided by SRM into the molecular architecture and dynamic organization of the synapse and, in particular, the interactions between Aβ and tau in this compartment. We further highlight how SRM can transform our understanding of the molecular pathological mechanisms that underlie AD. The application of SRM for understanding the roles of synapses in AD pathology will provide a stepping stone towards a broader understanding of dysfunction in other subcellular compartments and at cellular and circuit levels in this disease.
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Avazzadeh S, Quinlan LR, Reilly J, McDonagh K, Jalali A, Wang Y, McInerney V, Krawczyk J, Ding Y, Fitzgerald J, O'Sullivan M, Forman EB, Lynch SA, Ennis S, Feerick N, Reilly R, Li W, Shen X, Yang G, Lu Y, Peeters H, Dockery P, O'Brien T, Shen S, Gallagher L. NRXN1α +/- is associated with increased excitability in ASD iPSC-derived neurons. BMC Neurosci 2021; 22:56. [PMID: 34525970 PMCID: PMC8442436 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background NRXN1 deletions are identified as one of major rare risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD has 30% co-morbidity with epilepsy, and the latter is associated with excessive neuronal firing. NRXN1 encodes hundreds of presynaptic neuro-adhesion proteins categorized as NRXN1α/β/γ. Previous studies on cultured cells show that the short NRXN1β primarily exerts excitation effect, whereas the long NRXN1α which is more commonly deleted in patients involves in both excitation and inhibition. However, patient-derived models are essential for understanding functional consequences of NRXN1α deletions in human neurons. We recently derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from five controls and three ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- and showed increased calcium transients in patient neurons. Methods In this study we investigated the electrophysiological properties of iPSC-derived cortical neurons in control and ASD patients carrying NRXN1α+/- using patch clamping. Whole genome RNA sequencing was carried out to further understand the potential underlying molecular mechanism. Results NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons were shown to display larger sodium currents, higher AP amplitude and accelerated depolarization time. RNASeq analyses revealed transcriptomic changes with significant upregulation glutamatergic synapse and ion channels/transporter activity including voltage-gated potassium channels (GRIN1, GRIN3B, SLC17A6, CACNG3, CACNA1A, SHANK1), which are likely to couple with the increased excitability in NRXN1α+/- cortical neurons. Conclusions Together with recent evidence of increased calcium transients, our results showed that human NRXN1α+/- isoform deletions altered neuronal excitability and non-synaptic function, and NRXN1α+/- patient iPSCs may be used as an ASD model for therapeutic development with calcium transients and excitability as readouts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12868-021-00661-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Avazzadeh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- Physiology and Cellular Physiology Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, CÚRAM SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Jamie Reilly
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Katya McDonagh
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Yanqin Wang
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland.,Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Veronica McInerney
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Janusz Krawczyk
- Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yicheng Ding
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | | | - Matthew O'Sullivan
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eva B Forman
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally A Lynch
- Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Clinical Genetics, OLCHC, Dublin 12, Ireland
| | - Sean Ennis
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, UCD Academic Centre On Rare Diseases, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Feerick
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard Reilly
- Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, and Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Shen
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guangming Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yin Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hilde Peeters
- Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Dockery
- Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Biomedical Science Building BMS-1021, National University of Ireland Galway, Dangan, Ireland. .,FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02, Ireland.
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Trinity Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Roundhill EA, Chicon-Bosch M, Jeys L, Parry M, Rankin KS, Droop A, Burchill SA. RNA sequencing and functional studies of patient-derived cells reveal that neurexin-1 and regulators of this pathway are associated with poor outcomes in Ewing sarcoma. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 44:1065-1085. [PMID: 34403115 PMCID: PMC8516792 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00619-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The development of biomarkers and molecularly targeted therapies for patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) in order to minimise morbidity and improve outcome is urgently needed. Here, we set out to isolate and characterise patient-derived ES primary cell cultures and daughter cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) to identify biomarkers of high-risk disease and candidate therapeutic targets. Methods Thirty-two patient-derived primary cultures were established from treatment-naïve tumours and primary ES-CSCs isolated from these cultures using functional methods. By RNA-sequencing we analysed the transcriptome of ES patient-derived cells (n = 24) and ES-CSCs (n = 11) to identify the most abundant and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Expression of the top DEG(s) in ES-CSCs compared to ES cells was validated at both RNA and protein levels. The functional and prognostic potential of the most significant gene (neurexin-1) was investigated using knock-down studies and immunohistochemistry of two independent tumour cohorts. Results ES-CSCs were isolated from all primary cell cultures, consistent with the premise that ES is a CSC driven cancer. Transcriptional profiling confirmed that these cells were of mesenchymal origin, revealed novel cell surface targets for therapy that regulate cell-extracellular matrix interactions and identified candidate drivers of progression and relapse. High expression of neurexin-1 and low levels of regulators of its activity, APBA1 and NLGN4X, were associated with poor event-free and overall survival rates. Knock-down of neurexin-1 decreased viable cell numbers and spheroid formation. Conclusions Genes that regulate extracellular interactions, including neurexin-1, are candidate therapeutic targets in ES. High levels of neurexin-1 at diagnosis are associated with poor outcome and identify patients with localised disease that will relapse. These patients could benefit from more intensive or novel treatment modalities. The prognostic significance of neurexin-1 should be validated independently. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13402-021-00619-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ann Roundhill
- Children's Cancer Research Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Mariona Chicon-Bosch
- Children's Cancer Research Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Lee Jeys
- Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
| | - Michael Parry
- Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
| | - Kenneth S Rankin
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AD, UK
| | - Alastair Droop
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Susan Ann Burchill
- Children's Cancer Research Group, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK.
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35
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Ramsey AM, Tang AH, LeGates TA, Gou XZ, Carbone BE, Thompson SM, Biederer T, Blanpied TA. Subsynaptic positioning of AMPARs by LRRTM2 controls synaptic strength. Sci Adv 2021; 7:7/34/eabf3126. [PMID: 34417170 PMCID: PMC8378824 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf3126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that nano-organization of proteins within synapses may control the strength of communication between neurons in the brain. The unique subsynaptic distribution of glutamate receptors, which cluster in nanoalignment with presynaptic sites of glutamate release, supports this hypothesis. However, testing it has been difficult because mechanisms controlling subsynaptic organization remain unknown. Reasoning that transcellular interactions could position AMPA receptors (AMPARs), we targeted a key transsynaptic adhesion molecule implicated in controlling AMPAR number, LRRTM2, using engineered, rapid proteolysis. Severing the LRRTM2 extracellular domain led quickly to nanoscale declustering of AMPARs away from release sites, not prompting their escape from synapses until much later. This rapid remodeling of AMPAR position produced significant deficits in evoked, but not spontaneous, postsynaptic receptor activation. These results dissociate receptor numbers from their nanopositioning in determination of synaptic function and support the novel concept that adhesion molecules acutely position receptors to dynamically control synaptic strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M Ramsey
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ai-Hui Tang
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Tara A LeGates
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | | | - Beatrice E Carbone
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Scott M Thompson
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Thomas Biederer
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Thomas A Blanpied
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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36
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Abstract
Since the pioneering work of Ramón y Cajal, scientists have sought to unravel the complexities of axon development underlying neural circuit formation. Micrometer-scale axonal growth cones navigate to targets that are often centimeters away. To reach their targets, growth cones react to dynamic environmental cues that change in the order of seconds to days. Proper axon growth and guidance are essential to circuit formation, and progress in imaging has been integral to studying these processes. In particular, advances in high- and super-resolution microscopy provide the spatial and temporal resolution required for studying developing axons. In this Review, we describe how improved microscopy has revolutionized our understanding of axonal development. We discuss how novel technologies, specifically light-sheet and super-resolution microscopy, led to new discoveries at the cellular scale by imaging axon outgrowth and circuit wiring with extreme precision. We next examine how advanced microscopy broadened our understanding of the subcellular dynamics driving axon growth and guidance. We finally assess the current challenges that the field of axonal biology still faces for imaging axons, and examine how future technology could meet these needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J Weaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Fabienne E Poulain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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37
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Dai J, Patzke C, Liakath-Ali K, Seigneur E, Südhof TC. GluD1 is a signal transduction device disguised as an ionotropic receptor. Nature 2021; 595:261-265. [PMID: 34135511 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03661-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate delta receptors 1 (GluD1) and 2 (GluD2) exhibit the molecular architecture of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors, but assemble into trans-synaptic adhesion complexes by binding to secreted cerebellins that in turn interact with presynaptic neurexins1-4. It is unclear whether neurexin-cerebellin-GluD1/2 assemblies serve an adhesive synapse-formation function or mediate trans-synaptic signalling. Here we show in hippocampal synapses, that binding of presynaptic neurexin-cerebellin complexes to postsynaptic GluD1 controls glutamate receptor activity without affecting synapse numbers. Specifically, neurexin-1-cerebellin-2 and neurexin-3-cerebellin-2 complexes differentially regulate NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) receptors by activating distinct postsynaptic GluD1 effector signals. Of note, minimal GluD1 and GluD2 constructs containing only their N-terminal cerebellin-binding and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains, joined by an unrelated transmembrane region, fully control the levels of NMDA and AMPA receptors. The distinct signalling specificity of presynaptic neurexin-1 and neurexin-35,6 is encoded by their alternatively spliced splice site 4 sequences, whereas the regulatory functions of postsynaptic GluD1 are mediated by conserved cytoplasmic sequence motifs spanning 5-13 residues. Thus, GluDs are signalling molecules that regulate NMDA and AMPA receptors by an unexpected transduction mechanism that bypasses their ionotropic receptor architecture and directly converts extracellular neurexin-cerebellin signals into postsynaptic receptor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinye Dai
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Christopher Patzke
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Kif Liakath-Ali
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erica Seigneur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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38
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Klatt O, Repetto D, Brockhaus J, Reissner C, El Khallouqi A, Rohlmann A, Heine M, Missler M. Endogenous β-neurexins on axons and within synapses show regulated dynamic behavior. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109266. [PMID: 34133920 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurexins are key organizer molecules that regulate synaptic function and are implicated in autism and schizophrenia. β-neurexins interact with numerous cell adhesion and receptor molecules, but their neuronal localization remains elusive. Using single-molecule tracking and high-resolution microscopy to detect neurexin1β and neurexin3β in primary hippocampal neurons from knockin mice, we demonstrate that endogenous β-neurexins are present in fewer than half of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Moreover, we observe a large extrasynaptic pool of β-neurexins on axons and show that axonal β-neurexins diffuse with higher surface mobility than those transiently confined within synapses. Stimulation of neuronal activity further increases the mobility of synaptic and axonal β-neurexins, whereas inhibition causes the opposite. Blocking ectodomain cleavage by metalloproteases also reduces β-neurexin mobility and enhances glutamate release. These findings suggest that the surface mobility of endogenous β-neurexins inside and outside of synapses is dynamically regulated and linked to neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Klatt
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany; Functional Neurobiology Group, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniele Repetto
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Johannes Brockhaus
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Carsten Reissner
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Abderazzaq El Khallouqi
- Functional Neurobiology Group, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Astrid Rohlmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Heine
- Functional Neurobiology Group, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Markus Missler
- Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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39
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Pak C, Danko T, Mirabella VR, Wang J, Liu Y, Vangipuram M, Grieder S, Zhang X, Ward T, Huang YA, Jin K, Dexheimer P, Bardes E, Mitelpunkt A, Ma J, McLachlan M, Moore JC, Qu P, Purmann C, Dage JL, Swanson BJ, Urban AE, Aronow BJ, Pang ZP, Levinson DF, Wernig M, Südhof TC. Cross-platform validation of neurotransmitter release impairments in schizophrenia patient-derived NRXN1-mutant neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2025598118. [PMID: 34035170 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025598118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous NRXN1 deletions constitute the most prevalent currently known single-gene mutation associated with schizophrenia, and additionally predispose to multiple other neurodevelopmental disorders. Engineered heterozygous NRXN1 deletions impaired neurotransmitter release in human neurons, suggesting a synaptic pathophysiological mechanism. Utilizing this observation for drug discovery, however, requires confidence in its robustness and validity. Here, we describe a multicenter effort to test the generality of this pivotal observation, using independent analyses at two laboratories of patient-derived and newly engineered human neurons with heterozygous NRXN1 deletions. Using neurons transdifferentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells that were derived from schizophrenia patients carrying heterozygous NRXN1 deletions, we observed the same synaptic impairment as in engineered NRXN1-deficient neurons. This impairment manifested as a large decrease in spontaneous synaptic events, in evoked synaptic responses, and in synaptic paired-pulse depression. Nrxn1-deficient mouse neurons generated from embryonic stem cells by the same method as human neurons did not exhibit impaired neurotransmitter release, suggesting a human-specific phenotype. Human NRXN1 deletions produced a reproducible increase in the levels of CASK, an intracellular NRXN1-binding protein, and were associated with characteristic gene-expression changes. Thus, heterozygous NRXN1 deletions robustly impair synaptic function in human neurons regardless of genetic background, enabling future drug discovery efforts.
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40
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McDonald NA, Shen K. Finding functions of phase separation in the presynapse. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 69:178-184. [PMID: 33979706 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Synapses are the basic units of neuronal communication. Understanding how synapses assemble and function is therefore essential to understanding nervous systems. Decades of study have identified many molecular components and functional mechanisms of synapses. Recently, an additional level of synaptic protein organization has been identified: phase separation. In the presynapse, components of the central active zone and a synaptic vesicle-clustering factor have been shown to form liquid-liquid phase-separated condensates or hydrogels. New in vivo functional studies have directly tested how phase separation impacts both synapse formation and function. Here, we review this emerging evidence for in vivo functional roles of phase separation at the presynapse and discuss future functional studies necessary to understand its complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kang Shen
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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41
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Hosokawa T, Liu PW, Cai Q, Ferreira JS, Levet F, Butler C, Sibarita JB, Choquet D, Groc L, Hosy E, Zhang M, Hayashi Y. CaMKII activation persistently segregates postsynaptic proteins via liquid phase separation. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:777-85. [PMID: 33927400 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00843-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Transient information input to the brain leads to persistent changes in synaptic circuits, contributing to the formation of memory engrams. Pre- and postsynaptic structures undergo coordinated functional and structural changes during this process, but how such changes are achieved by their component molecules remains largely unknown. We found that activated CaMKII, a central player of synaptic plasticity, undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation with the NMDA-type glutamate receptor subunit GluN2B. Due to CaMKII autophosphorylation, the condensate stably persists even after Ca2+ is removed. The selective binding of activated CaMKII with GluN2B cosegregates AMPA receptors and the synaptic adhesion molecule neuroligin into a phase-in-phase assembly. In this way, Ca2+-induced liquid-liquid phase separation of CaMKII has the potential to act as an activity-dependent mechanism to crosslink postsynaptic proteins, which may serve as a platform for synaptic reorganization associated with synaptic plasticity.
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42
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Yang X, Annaert W. The Nanoscopic Organization of Synapse Structures: A Common Basis for Cell Communication. Membranes (Basel) 2021; 11:248. [PMID: 33808285 PMCID: PMC8065904 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11040248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Synapse structures, including neuronal and immunological synapses, can be seen as the plasma membrane contact sites between two individual cells where information is transmitted from one cell to the other. The distance between the two plasma membranes is only a few tens of nanometers, but these areas are densely populated with functionally different proteins, including adhesion proteins, receptors, and transporters. The narrow space between the two plasma membranes has been a barrier for resolving the synaptic architecture due to the diffraction limit in conventional microscopy (~250 nm). Various advanced super-resolution microscopy techniques, such as stimulated emission depletion (STED), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), bypass the diffraction limit and provide a sub-diffraction-limit resolving power, ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The studies using super-resolution microscopy have revealed unprecedented details of the nanoscopic organization and dynamics of synaptic molecules. In general, most synaptic proteins appear to be heterogeneously distributed and form nanodomains at the membranes. These nanodomains are dynamic functional units, playing important roles in mediating signal transmission through synapses. Herein, we discuss our current knowledge on the super-resolution nanoscopic architecture of synapses and their functional implications, with a particular focus on the neuronal synapses and immune synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wim Annaert
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research and KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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43
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Fuccillo MV, Pak C. Copy number variants in neurexin genes: phenotypes and mechanisms. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 68:64-70. [PMID: 33756113 PMCID: PMC8491281 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurexins are central to trans-synaptic cell adhesion and signaling during synapse specification and maintenance. The past two decades of human genetics research have identified structural variations in the neurexin gene family, in particular NRXN1 copy number variants (CNVs), implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric and developmental disorders. The heterogeneity and reduced penetrance of NRXN1 deletions, in addition to the pleiotropic, circuit-specific functions of NRXN1, present substantial obstacles to understanding how compromised NRXN1 function predisposes individuals to neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we provide an updated review of NRXN1 genetics in disease, followed by recently published work using both human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived systems and animal models to understand the mechanisms of disease pathophysiology. Finally, we suggest our outlook on how the field should progress to improve our understanding of neurexin mediated disease pathogenesis. We believe that understanding how structural genetic variants in NRXN1 contribute to disease pathophysiology requires parallel approaches in iPSC and mouse model systems, each leveraging their unique strengths — analysis of genetic interactions and background effects in iPSCs and neural circuit and behavioral analysis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc V Fuccillo
- Dept. of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
| | - ChangHui Pak
- Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
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44
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Khalaj AJ, Sterky FH, Sclip A, Schwenk J, Brunger AT, Fakler B, Südhof TC. Deorphanizing FAM19A proteins as pan-neurexin ligands with an unusual biosynthetic binding mechanism. J Cell Biol 2021; 219:151974. [PMID: 32706374 PMCID: PMC7480106 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202004164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurexins are presynaptic adhesion molecules that organize synapses by binding to diverse trans-synaptic ligands, but how neurexins are regulated is incompletely understood. Here we identify FAM19A/TAFA proteins, “orphan" cytokines, as neurexin regulators that interact with all neurexins, except for neurexin-1γ, via an unusual mechanism. Specifically, we show that FAM19A1-A4 bind to the cysteine-loop domain of neurexins by forming intermolecular disulfide bonds during transport through the secretory pathway. FAM19A-binding required both the cysteines of the cysteine-loop domain and an adjacent sequence of neurexins. Genetic deletion of neurexins suppressed FAM19A1 expression, demonstrating that FAM19As physiologically interact with neurexins. In hippocampal cultures, expression of exogenous FAM19A1 decreased neurexin O-glycosylation and suppressed its heparan sulfate modification, suggesting that FAM19As regulate the post-translational modification of neurexins. Given the selective expression of FAM19As in specific subtypes of neurons and their activity-dependent regulation, these results suggest that FAM19As serve as cell type–specific regulators of neurexin modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Khalaj
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Alessandra Sclip
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Jochen Schwenk
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Bernd Fakler
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Centres for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS) and Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS), Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
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45
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Tromp A, Mowry B, Giacomotto J. Neurexins in autism and schizophrenia-a review of patient mutations, mouse models and potential future directions. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:747-760. [PMID: 33191396 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00944-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the family of neurexins (NRXN1, NRXN2 and NRXN3) have been repeatedly identified in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). However, it remains unclear how these DNA variants affect neurexin functions and thereby predispose to these neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding both the wild-type and pathologic roles of these genes in the brain could help unveil biological mechanisms underlying mental disorders. In this regard, numerous studies have focused on generating relevant loss-of-function (LOF) mammalian models. Although this has increased our knowledge about their normal functions, the potential pathologic role(s) of these human variants remains elusive. Indeed, after reviewing the literature, it seems apparent that a traditional LOF-genetic approach based on complete LOF might not be sufficient to unveil the role of these human mutations. First, these genes present a very complex transcriptome and total-LOF of all isoforms may not be the cause of toxicity in patients, particularly given evidence that causative variants act through haploinsufficiency. Moreover, human DNA variants may not all lead to LOF but potentially to intricate transcriptome changes that could also include the generation of aberrant isoforms acting as a gain-of-function (GOF). Furthermore, their transcriptomic complexity most likely renders them prone to genetic compensation when one tries to manipulate them using traditional site-directed mutagenesis approaches, and this could act differently from model to model leading to heterogeneous and conflicting phenotypes. This review compiles the relevant literature on variants identified in human studies and on the mouse models currently deployed, and offers suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Tromp
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Bryan Mowry
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Jean Giacomotto
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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46
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Abstract
Astrocytes are closely associated with the regulation of synapse formation and function. In addition, astrocytes have been shown to block certain brain impairments, including synaptic damage from stroke and other diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Although astrocytes do not completely prevent synaptic damage, they appear to be protective and to restore synaptic function following damage. The purpose of this study is to discuss the role of astrocytes in synaptogenesis and synaptic damage in ischemic stroke. I detail the mechanism of action of the multiple factors secreted by astrocytes that are involved in synapse formation. In particular, I describe the characteristics and role in synapse formation of each secreted molecule related to synaptic structure and function. Furthermore, I discuss the effect of astrocytes on synaptogenesis and repair in ischemic stroke and in other CNS diseases. Astrocytes release molecules such as thrombospondin, hevin, secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine, etc., due to activation by ischemia to induce synaptic structure and function, an effect associated with protection of the brain from synaptic damage in ischemic stroke. In conclusion, I show that astrocytes may regulate synaptic transmission while having the potential to block and repair synaptic dysfunction in stroke-associated brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Yamagata
- Department of Food Bioscience & Biotechnology, College of Bioresource Science, Nihon University (UNBS), Fujisawa, Japan
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47
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Kashiwagi Y, Okabe S. Imaging of spine synapses using super-resolution microscopy. Anat Sci Int 2021; 96:343-58. [PMID: 33459976 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-021-00603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal circuits in the neocortex and hippocampus are essential for higher brain functions such as motor learning and spatial memory. In the mammalian forebrain, most excitatory synapses of pyramidal neurons are formed on spines, which are tiny protrusions extending from the dendritic shaft. The spine contains specialized molecular machinery that regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity. Spine size correlates with the efficacy of synaptic transmission, and spine morphology affects signal transduction at the post-synaptic compartment. Plasticity-related changes in the structural and molecular organization of spine synapses are thought to underlie the cellular basis of learning and memory. Recent advances in super-resolution microscopy have revealed the molecular mechanisms of the nanoscale synaptic structures regulating synaptic transmission and plasticity in living neurons, which are difficult to investigate using electron microscopy alone. In this review, we summarize recent advances in super-resolution imaging of spine synapses and discuss the implications of nanoscale structures in the regulation of synaptic function, learning, and memory.
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48
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Kim HY, Um JW, Ko J. Proper synaptic adhesion signaling in the control of neural circuit architecture and brain function. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 200:101983. [PMID: 33422662 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules are critical for governing various stages of synapse development and specifying neural circuit properties via the formation of multifarious signaling pathways. Recent studies have pinpointed the putative roles of trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules in mediating various cognitive functions. Here, we review the literature on the roles of a diverse group of central synaptic organizers, including neurexins (Nrxns), leukocyte common antigen-related receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs), and their associated binding proteins, in regulating properties of specific type of synapses and neural circuits. In addition, we highlight the findings that aberrant synaptic adhesion signaling leads to alterations in the structures, transmission, and plasticity of specific synapses across diverse brain areas. These results seem to suggest that proper trans-synaptic signaling pathways by Nrxns, LAR-RPTPs, and their interacting network is likely to constitute central molecular complexes that form the basis for cognitive functions, and that these complexes are heterogeneously and complexly disrupted in many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Young Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, South Korea
| | - Ji Won Um
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, South Korea; Core Protein Resources Center, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, South Korea.
| | - Jaewon Ko
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, South Korea.
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49
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Carvalhais LG, Martinho VC, Ferreiro E, Pinheiro PS. Unraveling the Nanoscopic Organization and Function of Central Mammalian Presynapses With Super-Resolution Microscopy. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:578409. [PMID: 33584169 PMCID: PMC7874199 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.578409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex, nanoscopic scale of neuronal function, taking place at dendritic spines, axon terminals, and other minuscule structures, cannot be adequately resolved using standard, diffraction-limited imaging techniques. The last couple of decades saw a rapid evolution of imaging methods that overcome the diffraction limit imposed by Abbe's principle. These techniques, including structured illumination microscopy (SIM), stimulated emission depletion (STED), photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM), and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), among others, have revolutionized our understanding of synapse biology. By exploiting the stochastic nature of fluorophore light/dark states or non-linearities in the interaction of fluorophores with light, by using modified illumination strategies that limit the excitation area, these methods can achieve spatial resolutions down to just a few tens of nm or less. Here, we review how these advanced imaging techniques have contributed to unprecedented insight into the nanoscopic organization and function of mammalian neuronal presynapses, revealing new organizational principles or lending support to existing views, while raising many important new questions. We further discuss recent technical refinements and newly developed tools that will continue to expand our ability to delve deeper into how synaptic function is orchestrated at the nanoscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia G Carvalhais
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vera C Martinho
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paulo S Pinheiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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50
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Zheng Y, Verhoeff TA, Perez Pardo P, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD. The Gut-Brain Axis in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Focus on the Metalloproteases ADAM10 and ADAM17. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010118. [PMID: 33374371 PMCID: PMC7796333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a spectrum of disorders that are characterized by problems in social interaction and repetitive behavior. The disease is thought to develop from changes in brain development at an early age, although the exact mechanisms are not known yet. In addition, a significant number of people with ASD develop problems in the intestinal tract. A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAMs) include a group of enzymes that are able to cleave membrane-bound proteins. ADAM10 and ADAM17 are two members of this family that are able to cleave protein substrates involved in ASD pathogenesis, such as specific proteins important for synapse formation, axon signaling and neuroinflammation. All these pathological mechanisms are involved in ASD. Besides the brain, ADAM10 and ADAM17 are also highly expressed in the intestines. ADAM10 and ADAM17 have implications in pathways that regulate gut permeability, homeostasis and inflammation. These metalloproteases might be involved in microbiota-gut-brain axis interactions in ASD through the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses in the intestinal tract. In this review, the potential roles of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in the pathology of ASD and as targets for new therapies will be discussed, with a focus on the gut-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanpeng Zheng
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (T.A.V.); (P.P.P.); (J.G.)
| | - Tessa A. Verhoeff
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (T.A.V.); (P.P.P.); (J.G.)
| | - Paula Perez Pardo
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (T.A.V.); (P.P.P.); (J.G.)
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (T.A.V.); (P.P.P.); (J.G.)
- Global Centre of Excellence Immunology, Danone Nutricia Research B.V., 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aletta D. Kraneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (T.A.V.); (P.P.P.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-(0)3-02534509
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