Endosomal phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate controls synaptic vesicle cycling and neurotransmission
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ABSTRACT: Neural circuit function requires mechanisms for controling neurotransmitter release and the activity of neuronal networks, including modulation by synaptic contacts, synaptic plasticity, and homeostatic scaling. However, how neurons intrinsically monitor and feedback presynaptic neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling to restrict neuronal network activity remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we investigated the reciprocal interplay between neuronal endosomes, organelles of central importance for the function of synapses, and synaptic activity. We show that elevated neuronal activity represses the synthesis of endosomal lipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] by the lipid kinase VPS34. Neuronal activity in turn is regulated by endosomal PI(3)P, the depletion of which reduces neurotransmission as a consequence of perturbed SV endocytosis. We find that this mechanism involves Calpain 2-mediated hyperactivation of Cdk5 downstream of receptor- and activity-dependent calcium influx. Our results unravel an unexpected function for PI(3)P-containing neuronal endosomes in the control of presynaptic vesicle cycling and neurotransmission, which may explain the involvement of the PI(3)P-producing VPS34 kinase in neurological disease and neurodegeneration.
Project description:Neural circuit function requires mechanisms for controlling neurotransmitter release and the activity of neuronal networks, including modulation by synaptic contacts, synaptic plasticity, and homeostatic scaling. However, how neurons intrinsically monitor and feedback control presynaptic neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling to restrict neuronal network activity remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we investigated the reciprocal interplay between neuronal endosomes, organelles of central importance for the function of synapses, and synaptic activity. We show that elevated neuronal activity represses the synthesis of endosomal lipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] by the lipid kinase VPS34. Neuronal activity in turn is regulated by endosomal PI(3)P, the depletion of which reduces neurotransmission as a consequence of perturbed SV endocytosis. We find that this mechanism involves Calpain 2-mediated hyperactivation of Cdk5 downstream of receptor- and activity-dependent calcium influx. Our results unravel an unexpected function for PI(3)P-containing neuronal endosomes in the control of presynaptic vesicle cycling and neurotransmission, which may explain the involvement of the PI(3)P-producing VPS34 kinase in neurological disease and neurodegeneration.
Project description:The formation of neuronal synapses and the dynamic regulation of their efficacy depend on the proper assembly of the postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor apparatus. Receptor recruitment to inhibitory GABAergic postsynapses requires the scaffold protein gephyrin and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor collybistin (Cb). In vitro, the pleckstrin homology domain of Cb binds phosphoinositides, specifically phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P). However, whether PI3P is required for inhibitory postsynapse formation is currently unknown. Here, we investigated the role of PI3P at developing GABAergic postsynapses by using a membrane-permeant PI3P derivative, time-lapse confocal imaging, electrophysiology, as well as knockdown and overexpression of PI3P-metabolizing enzymes. Our results provide the first in cellula evidence that PI3P located at early/sorting endosomes regulates the postsynaptic clustering of gephyrin and GABAA receptors and the strength of inhibitory, but not excitatory, postsynapses in cultured hippocampal neurons. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells, stimulation of gephyrin cluster formation by PI3P depends on Cb. We therefore conclude that the endosomal pool of PI3P, generated by the class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, is important for the Cb-mediated recruitment of gephyrin and GABAA receptors to developing inhibitory postsynapses and thus the formation of postsynaptic membrane specializations.
Project description:It is increasingly recognized that the compartmental organization of signaling processes has a profound influence on cellular behavior. However, our inability to influence these compartmental events in a spatially restricted and acute manner limits our understanding of causation. To determine whether local compartmental loss of a phosphoinositide disrupts the normal traffic of specific cargoes through endosomes, we developed the use of a regulated dimerization device, here designed to compartmentally modify the phosphoinositide content of Rab5-positive endosomes. This modification is effected through the specific regulated recruitment of the 3-phosphatase myotubularin to endosomal membranes in intact cells. The selective manipulation of endosomal phosphatidylinositols (PIs) demonstrates that it is the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) or its metabolite PtdIns(3,5)P2 within this compartment that determines the normal maturation of the endosomal compartment and the flux of receptors through it. On local loss of PtdIns3P/PtdIns(3,5)P2, the endosomal compartment itself fails to continue its normal maturation process, leading to the microtubule-dependent tubularization of the endosomal network. Furthermore, it is shown that endosomal PtdIns3P/PtdIns(3,5)P2 is necessary for transferrin receptor traffic through this compartment while having an effect on EGF receptor (EGFR) entry into and sorting from this endosome compartment. The ability to acutely and selectively influence compartmental behavior as exemplified here for endomsomes clearly illustrates the power of the approach used to dissect the role of localized signals and events.
Project description:Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a prototype synaptic vesicle protein regulating action potential-dependent neurotransmitters release. SV2A also serves as a specific binding site for certain antiepileptics and is implicated in the treatment of epilepsy. Here, to elucidate the role of SV2A in modulating epileptogenesis, we generated a novel rat model (Sv2a(L174Q) rat) carrying a Sv2a-targeted missense mutation (L174Q) and analyzed its susceptibilities to kindling development. Although animals homozygous for the Sv2a(L174Q) mutation exhibited normal appearance and development, they are susceptible to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizures. In addition, development of kindling associated with repeated PTZ treatments or focal stimulation of the amygdala was markedly facilitated by the Sv2a(L174Q) mutation. Neurochemical studies revealed that the Sv2a(L174Q) mutation specifically reduced depolarization-induced GABA, but not glutamate, release in the hippocampus without affecting basal release or the SV2A expression level in GABAergic neurons. In addition, the Sv2a(L174Q) mutation selectively reduced the synaptotagmin1 (Syt1) level among the exocytosis-related proteins examined. The present results demonstrate that dysfunction of SV2A due to the Sv2a(L174Q) mutation impairs the synaptic GABA release by reducing the Syt1 level and facilitates the kindling development, illustrating the crucial role of SV2A-GABA system in modulating kindling epileptogenesis.
Project description:Sorting nexin 4 (SNX4) is an evolutionary conserved organizer of membrane recycling. In neurons, SNX4 accumulates in synapses, but how SNX4 affects synapse function remains unknown. We generated a conditional SNX4 knock-out mouse model and report that SNX4 cKO synapses show enhanced neurotransmission during train stimulation, while the first evoked EPSC was normal. SNX4 depletion did not affect vesicle recycling, basic autophagic flux, or the levels and localization of SNARE-protein VAMP2/synaptobrevin-2. However, SNX4 depletion affected synapse ultrastructure: an increase in docked synaptic vesicles at the active zone, while the overall vesicle number was normal, and a decreased active zone length. These effects together lead to a substantially increased density of docked vesicles per release site. In conclusion, SNX4 is a negative regulator of synaptic vesicle docking and release. These findings suggest a role for SNX4 in synaptic vesicle recruitment at the active zone.
Project description:The Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2 (SV2) family of transporter-like proteins is expressed exclusively in vesicles that undergo calcium-regulated exocytosis. Of the three isoforms expressed in mammals, SV2B is the most divergent. Here we report studies of SV2B location and function in the retina. Immunolabeling studies revealed that SV2B is detected in rod photoreceptor synaptic terminals where it is the primary isoform. In mice lacking SV2B, synaptic transmission at the synapse between photoreceptors and bipolar neurons was decreased, as evidenced by a significant reduction in the amplitude of the b-wave in electroretinogram recordings. Quantitative immunoblot analyses of whole eyes revealed that loss of SV2B was associated with reduced levels of synaptic vesicle proteins including synaptotagmin, VAMP, synaptophysin and the vesicular glutamate transporter V-GLUT1. Immunolabeling studies revealed that SV2B is detected in rod photoreceptor synaptic terminals where it is the primary isoform. Thus, SV2B contributes to the modulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis and plays a significant role in regulating synaptic protein content.
Project description:Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a complex multisystemic inherited disorder, which displays multiple debilitating neurological manifestations. Despite recent progress in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of myotonic dystrophy type 1 in skeletal muscle and heart, the pathways affected in the central nervous system are largely unknown. To address this question, we studied the only transgenic mouse line expressing CTG trinucleotide repeats in the central nervous system. These mice recreate molecular features of RNA toxicity, such as RNA foci accumulation and missplicing. They exhibit relevant behavioural and cognitive phenotypes, deficits in short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as changes in neurochemical levels. In the search for disease intermediates affected by disease mutation, a global proteomics approach revealed RAB3A upregulation and synapsin I hyperphosphorylation in the central nervous system of transgenic mice, transfected cells and post-mortem brains of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1. These protein defects were associated with electrophysiological and behavioural deficits in mice and altered spontaneous neurosecretion in cell culture. Taking advantage of a relevant transgenic mouse of a complex human disease, we found a novel connection between physiological phenotypes and synaptic protein dysregulation, indicative of synaptic dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy type 1 brain pathology.
Project description:Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), a major identity tag of early endosomes (EEs), provides a platform for the recruitment of numerous cellular proteins containing an FYVE or PX domain that is required for PI3P-dependent maturation of EEs. Most of the PI3P in EEs is generated by the activity of Vps34, a catalytic component of class III phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate kinase (PI3Ks) complex. In this study, we analyzed the role of Vps34-derived PI3P in the EE recycling circuit of unperturbed cells using VPS34-IN1 (IN1), a highly specific inhibitor of Vps34. IN1-mediated PI3P depletion resulted in the rapid dissociation of recombinant FYVE- and PX-containing PI3P-binding modules and endogenous PI3P-binding proteins, including EEA1 and EE sorting nexins. IN1 treatment triggered the rapid restructuring of EEs into a PI3P-independent functional configuration, and after IN1 washout, EEs were rapidly restored to a PI3P-dependent functional configuration. Analysis of the PI3P-independent configuration showed that the Vps34-derived PI3P is not essential for the pre-EE-associated functions and the fast recycling loop of the EE recycling circuit but contributes to EE maturation toward the degradation circuit, as previously shown in Vps34 knockout and knockdown studies. However, our study shows that Vps34-derived PI3P is also essential for the establishment of the Rab11a-dependent pathway, including recycling cargo sorting in this pathway and membrane flux from EEs to the pericentriolar endosomal recycling compartment (ERC). Rab11a endosomes of PI3P-depleted cells expanded and vacuolized outside the pericentriolar area without the acquisition of internalized transferrin (Tf). These endosomes had high levels of FIP5 and low levels of FIP3, suggesting that their maturation was arrested before the acquisition of FIP3. Consequently, Tf-loaded-, Rab11a/FIP5-, and Rab8a-positive endosomes disappeared from the pericentriolar area, implying that PI3P-associated functions are essential for ERC biogenesis. ERC loss was rapidly reversed after IN1 washout, which coincided with the restoration of FIP3 recruitment to Rab11a-positive endosomes and their dynein-dependent migration to the cell center. Thus, our study shows that Vps34-derived PI3P is indispensable in the recycling circuit to maintain the slow recycling pathway and biogenesis of the ERC.
Project description:Autophagy is an intracellular degradation mechanism critical for plant acclimation to environmental stresses. Central to autophagy is the formation of specialized vesicles, the autophagosomes, which target and deliver cargo to the lytic vacuole. How autophagosomes form in plant cells remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover the importance of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate in autophagy using pharmacological and genetical approaches. Combining biochemical and live-microscopy analyses, we show that PI4K activity is required for early stages of autophagosome formation. Further, our results show that the plasma membrane-localized PI4Kα1 is involved in autophagy and that a substantial portion of autophagy structures are found in proximity to the PI4P-enriched plasma membrane. Together, our study unravels critical insights into the molecular determinants of autophagy, proposing a model whereby the plasma membrane provides PI4P to support the proper assembly and expansion of the phagophore thus governing autophagosome formation in Arabidopsis.
Project description:Reelin is a glycoprotein that is critical for proper layering of neocortex during development as well as dynamic regulation of glutamatergic postsynaptic signaling in mature synapses. Here, we show that Reelin also acts presynaptically, resulting in robust rapid enhancement of spontaneous neurotransmitter release without affecting properties of evoked neurotransmission. This effect of Reelin requires a modest but significant increase in presynaptic Ca(2+) initiated via ApoER2 signaling. The specificity of Reelin action on spontaneous neurotransmitter release is encoded at the level of vesicular SNARE machinery as it requires VAMP7 and SNAP-25 but not synaptobrevin2, VAMP4, or vti1a. These results uncover a presynaptic regulatory pathway that utilizes the heterogeneity of synaptic vesicle-associated SNAREs and selectively augments action potential-independent neurotransmission.