biostudies-literatureAlexander KDU.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical SciencesU.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeHoward Hughes Medical InstituteNINDS NIH HHS7520https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10657367biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)The elimination of synapses during circuit remodeling is critical for brain maturation; however, the molecular mechanisms directing synapse elimination and its timing remain elusive. We show that the transcriptional regulator DVE-1, which shares homology with special AT-rich sequence-binding (SATB) family members previously implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders, directs the elimination of juvenile synaptic inputs onto remodeling C. elegans GABAergic neurons. Juvenile acetylcholine receptor clusters and apposing presynaptic sites are eliminated during the maturation of wild-type GABAergic neurons but persist into adulthood in dve-1 mutants, producing heightened motor connectivity. DVE-1 localization to GABAergic nuclei is required for synapse elimination, consistent with DVE-1 regulation of transcription. Pathway analysis of putative DVE-1 target genes, proteasome inhibitor, and genetic experiments implicate the ubiquitin-proteasome system in synapse elimination. Together, our findings define a previously unappreciated role for a SATB family member in directing synapse elimination during circuit remodeling, likely through transcriptional regulation of protein degradation processes.Nature communicationsThe homeodomain transcriptional regulator DVE-1 directs a program for synapse elimination during circuit remodeling.PMC10657367RO1NS064263R01 NS064263T32GM135701GT11432Ramachandran SLiu SDoitsidou MRussell JOliver DBBenard CArmstrong WFrancis MMAlexander KDWalker AKBiswas KRettler MLambert CMfalseThe homeodomain transcriptional regulator DVE-1 directs a program for synapse elimination during circuit remodeling.The elimination of synapses during circuit remodeling is critical for brain maturation; however, the molecular mechanisms directing synapse elimination and its timing remain elusive. We show that the transcriptional regulator DVE-1, which shares homology with special AT-rich sequence-binding (SATB) family members previously implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders, directs the elimination of juvenile synaptic inputs onto remodeling C. elegans GABAergic neurons. Juvenile acetylcholine receptor clusters and apposing presynaptic sites are eliminated during the maturation of wild-type GABAergic neurons but persist into adulthood in dve-1 mutants, producing heightened motor connectivity. DVE-1 localization to GABAergic nuclei is required for synapse elimination, consistent with DVE-1 regulation of transcription. Pathway analysis of putative DVE-1 target genes, proteasome inhibitor, and genetic experiments implicate the ubiquitin-proteasome system in synapse elimination. Together, our findings define a previously unappreciated role for a SATB family member in directing synapse elimination during circuit remodeling, likely through transcriptional regulation of protein degradation processes.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Nov2025-04-19T06:36:35.26Z2025-04-19T06:36:35.26ZS-EPMC106573673798035710.1038/s41467-023-43281-4