scholarly journals Functional and Biochemical Analysis of the C2 Domains of Synaptotagmin IV

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2285-2295 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Thomas ◽  
Gregory D. Ferguson ◽  
Harvey R. Herschman ◽  
Lisa A. Elferink

Synaptotagmins (Syts) are a family of vesicle proteins that have been implicated in both regulated neurosecretion and general membrane trafficking. Calcium-dependent interactions mediated through their C2 domains are proposed to contribute to the mechanism by which Syts trigger calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release. Syt IV is a novel member of the Syt family that is induced by cell depolarization and has a rapid rate of synthesis and a short half-life. Moreover, the C2A domain of Syt IV does not bind calcium. We have examined the biochemical and functional properties of the C2 domains of Syt IV. Consistent with its non–calcium binding properties, the C2A domain of Syt IV binds syntaxin isoforms in a calcium-independent manner. In neuroendocrine pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, Syt IV colocalizes with Syt I in the tips of the neurites. Microinjection of the C2A domain reveals that calcium-independent interactions mediated through this domain of Syt IV inhibit calcium-mediated neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells. Conversely, the C2B domain of Syt IV contains calcium binding properties, which permit homo-oligomerization as well as hetero-oligomerization with Syt I. Our observation that different combinatorial interactions exist between Syt and syntaxin isoforms, coupled with the calcium stimulated hetero-oligomerization of Syt isoforms, suggests that the secretory machinery contains a vast repertoire of biochemical properties for sensing calcium and regulating neurotransmitter release accordingly.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shauna C. Otto ◽  
Patrick N. Reardon ◽  
Tanushri M. Kumar ◽  
Chapman J. Kuykendall ◽  
Colin P. Johnson

C2 domains are the second-most abundant calcium binding module in the proteome. Activity of the muscular dystrophy associated protein dysferlin is dependent on the C2A domain at the N-terminus of the protein, which couples calcium and PI(4,5)P2 binding through an unknown mechanism. Using solution state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy we confirm the phosphoinositide binding site for the domain and find that calcium binding attenuates millisecond to microsecond motions at both in the calcium binding loops and the concave face of the C2A, including a portion of the phosphoinositide binding site. Our results support a model whereby increasing calcium concentrations shift the phosphoinositide binding pocket of C2A into a binding-competent state, allowing for calcium dependent membrane targeting. This model contrasts with the canonical mechanism for C2 domain-phosphoinositide interaction and provides a basis for how pathogenic mutations in the C2A domain result in loss of function and disease.


2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (2) ◽  
pp. 681-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin RICKMAN ◽  
Molly CRAXTON ◽  
Shona OSBORNE ◽  
Bazbek DAVLETOV

Intracellular membrane traffic is governed by a conserved set of proteins, including Syts (synaptotagmins). The mammalian Syt family includes 15 isoforms. Syts are membrane proteins that possess tandem C2 domains (C2AB) implicated in calcium-dependent phospholipid binding. We performed a pair-wise amino acid sequence comparison, together with functional studies of rat Syt C2ABs, to examine common and divergent properties within the mammalian family. Sequence analysis indicates three different C2AB classes, the members of which share a high degree of sequence similarity. All the other C2ABs are highly divergent in sequence. Nearly half of the Syt family does not exhibit calcium/phospholipid binding in comparison to Syt I, the major brain isoform. Syts do, however, possess a more conserved function, namely calcium-independent binding to target SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor) heterodimers. All tested isoforms, except Syt XII and Syt XIII, bound the target SNARE heterodimer comprising syntaxin 1 and SNAP-25 (25 kDa synaptosome-associated protein). Our present study suggests that many Syt isoforms can function in membrane trafficking to interact with the target SNARE heterodimer on the pathway to calcium-triggered membrane fusion.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyong Wu ◽  
Lu Ma ◽  
Nicholas A Courtney ◽  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Yongli Zhang ◽  
...  

Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) is a vesicular calcium sensor required for synchronous neurotransmitter release. It is composed of a single-pass transmembrane domain linked to two tandem C2 domains (C2A and C2B) that bind calcium, acidic lipids, and SNARE proteins that drive fusion of the synaptic vesicle with the plasma membrane. Despite its essential role, how Syt1 couples calcium entry to synchronous release is not well understood. Calcium binding to C2B, but not to C2A, is critical for synchronous release and C2B additionally binds the SNARE complex. The C2A domain is also required for Syt1 function, but it is not clear why. Here we asked what critical feature of C2A may be responsible for its functional role, and compared this to the analogous feature in C2B. We focused on highly conserved poly-lysine patches located on the sides of C2A (K189-192) and C2B (K324-327). We tested effects of charge-neutralization mutations in either region (Syt1K189-192A and Syt1K326-327A) side-by-side to determine their relative contributions to Syt1 function in cultured cortical mouse neurons and in single-molecule experiments. Combining electrophysiological recordings and optical tweezers measurements to probe dynamic single C2 domain-membrane interactions, we show that both C2A and C2B polybasic patches contribute to membrane binding, and both are required for evoked release. The readily releasable vesicle pool or spontaneous release were not affected, so both patches are specifically required for synchronization of release. We suggest these patches contribute to cooperative binding to membranes, increasing the overall affinity of Syt1 for negatively charged membranes and facilitating evoked release.


1996 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 1079-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
C E Creutz ◽  
S L Snyder ◽  
S N Daigle ◽  
J Redick

Cultures of the nematode C. elegans were examined for the presence of calcium-dependent, phospholipid-binding proteins of the annexin class. A single protein of apparent mass on SDS-polyacrylamide gels of 32 kD was isolated from soluble extracts of nematode cultures on the basis of its ability to bind to phospholipids in a calcium-dependent manner. After verification of the protein as an annexin by peptide sequencing, an antiserum to the protein was prepared and used to isolate a corresponding cDNA from an expression library in phage lambda gt11. The encoded protein, herein referred to as the nex-1 annexin, has a mass of 35 kD and is 36-42% identical in sequence to 10 known mammalian annexins. Several unique modifications were found in the portions of the sequence corresponding to calcium-binding sites. Possible phosphorylation sites in the NH2-terminal domain of the nematode annexin correspond to those of mammalian annexins. The gene for this annexin (nex-1) was physically mapped to chromosome III in the vicinity of the dpy-17 genetic marker. Two other annexin genes (nex-2 and nex-3) were also identified in chromosome III sequences reported by the nematode genomic sequencing project (Sulston, J., Z. Du, K. Thomas, R. Wilson, L. Hillier, R. Staden, N. Halloran, P. Green, J. Thierry-Mieg, L. Qiu, et al. 1992. Nature (Lond.). 356:37-41). The nex-1 annexin was localized in the nematode by immunofluorescence and by electron microscopy using immunogold labeling. The protein is associated with membrane systems of the secretory gland cells of the pharynx, with sites of cuticle formation in the grinder in the pharynx, with yolk granules in oocytes, with the uterine wall and vulva, and with membrane systems in the spermathecal valve. The presence of the annexin in association with the membranes of the spermathecal valve suggests a novel function of the protein in the folding and unfolding of these membranes as eggs pass through the valve. The localizations also indicate roles for the annexin corresponding to those proposed in mammalian systems in membrane trafficking, collagen deposition, and extracellular matrix formation.


1982 ◽  
Vol 205 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Delorme ◽  
J L Danan ◽  
M A Ripoche ◽  
H Mathieu

We compared immunochemical and biochemical properties of the vitamin D-dependent Ca2+-binding protein (CaBP) from rat and mouse intestine. The two intestinal CaBP species were extensively purified by gel filtration and successive anion-exchange chromatographies. Both had a similar mol.wt. of 9000. Their pI values differed markedly, being 8.0 and 4.9 in rat and mouse CaBP respectively. Accordingly, mouse CaBP displayed more anodal migration in electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. Both mouse and rat CaBP only exhibited partial immunochemical similarities, but their amino acid compositions were very similar. Chromatofocusing was also found to be a good method of detecting calcium-dependent changes in their pI. We developed a sensitive radioimmunoassay for mouse CaBP enabling us to detect substantial amounts of CaBP in uterus, yolk sac and chorio-allantoic placenta. During normal mouse gestation, CaBP appeared on day 12 in the chorio-allantoic placenta but was already present on day 9 in the yolk sac, where its level rose sharply between days 9.5 and 10. CaBP may therefore be considered as a new marker for mouse yolk-sac differentiation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Adolfsen ◽  
Sudipta Saraswati ◽  
Motojiro Yoshihara ◽  
J. Troy Littleton

The synaptotagmin family has been implicated in calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release, although Synaptotagmin 1 is the only isoform demonstrated to control synaptic vesicle fusion. Here, we report the characterization of the six remaining synaptotagmin isoforms encoded in the Drosophila genome, including homologues of mammalian Synaptotagmins 4, 7, 12, and 14. Like Synaptotagmin 1, Synaptotagmin 4 is ubiquitously present at synapses, but localizes to the postsynaptic compartment. The remaining isoforms were not found at synapses (Synaptotagmin 7), expressed at very low levels (Synaptotagmins 12 and 14), or in subsets of putative neurosecretory cells (Synaptotagmins α and β). Consistent with their distinct localizations, overexpression of Synaptotagmin 4 or 7 cannot functionally substitute for the loss of Synaptotagmin 1 in synaptic transmission. Our results indicate that synaptotagmins are differentially distributed to unique subcellular compartments. In addition, the identification of a postsynaptic synaptotagmin suggests calcium-dependent membrane-trafficking functions on both sides of the synapse.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clémence Gruget ◽  
Oscar Bello ◽  
Jeff Coleman ◽  
Shyam S. Krishnakumar ◽  
Eric Perez ◽  
...  

Abstract Synaptotagmin interaction with anionic lipid (phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol) containing membranes, both in the absence and presence of calcium ions (Ca2+), is critical to its central role in orchestrating neurotransmitter release. The molecular surfaces involved, namely the conserved polylysine motif in the C2B domain and Ca2+-binding aliphatic loops on both C2A and C2B domains, are known. Here we use surface force apparatus combined with systematic mutational analysis of the functional surfaces to directly measure Syt1-membrane interaction and fully map the site-binding energetics of Syt1 both in the absence and presence of Ca2+. By correlating energetics data with the molecular rearrangements measured during confinement, we find that both C2 domains cooperate in membrane binding, with the C2B domain functioning as the main energetic driver, and the C2A domain acting as a facilitator.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (04) ◽  
pp. 567-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ute Friedrich ◽  
Bernd Pötzsch ◽  
Klaus T Preissner ◽  
Gert Müller-Berghaus ◽  
Hartmut Ehrlich

SummaryIn the absence of its cofactor thrombomodulin (TM) thrombin is only a poor activator of the anticoagulant serine protease protein C (PC). The TM-dependence of PC-activation has been restricted to a series of molecular structures of the PC molecule including high-affinity calcium binding sites and single amino acid residues. However, thrombin induced activation of a PC derivative altered in all these critical positions is markedly enhanced by TM indicating that additional structures of the PC molecule are involved in determining the TM specificity. Based on the hypothesis that such an additional regulatory element should be located near the thrombin cleavage site and should include negatively charged amino acids to ascertain calcium binding, we studied whether Glu and Asp in positions P7 and P6 relative to the thrombin cleavage site together with Asp in P3 are involved in formation of such a regulatory element. Three PC derivatives containing the neutral counterpart of the negatively charged amino acids in positions P3; P3 and P6; and P3, P6, and P7, respectively, were generated using site-directed mutagenesis. Compared to rPC-wt the initial rates of PC activation of all three mutants were increased 4.0-fold for thrombin/TM and 4.0-, 5.3-fold for activation by thrombin alone. However, compared to the PC derivative neutralized exclusively in P3, additional changes in P6 and P7 showed no increase in the thrombin activation kinetics and calcium binding properties were identical in all of the three mutants. We conclude that .1) among the three negatively charged amino acids at the COOH-terminal end of the activation peptide of PC, only Asp in P3 is involved in calcium-dependent inhibition of PC activation by thrombin; 2) the residues in P7 and P6 do not contribute to the calcium binding properties of PC; 3) P7 and P6 sites are not required for calcium-dependent activation of PC by the thrombin/TM complex.


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