scholarly journals The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter Is Required for Neuromuscular Development and Function

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (19) ◽  
pp. 5238-5250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Braulio M. de Castro ◽  
Xavier De Jaeger ◽  
Cristina Martins-Silva ◽  
Ricardo D. F. Lima ◽  
Ernani Amaral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Choline Acetyltransferase ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
And Function ◽  
Neuromuscular Development ◽  
High Affinity Choline Transporter

ABSTRACT The vesicular acetylcholine (ACh) transporter (VAChT) mediates ACh storage by synaptic vesicles. However, the VAChT-independent release of ACh is believed to be important during development. Here we generated VAChT knockout mice and tested the physiological relevance of the VAChT-independent release of ACh. Homozygous VAChT knockout mice died shortly after birth, indicating that VAChT-mediated storage of ACh is essential for life. Indeed, synaptosomes obtained from brains of homozygous knockouts were incapable of releasing ACh in response to depolarization. Surprisingly, electrophysiological recordings at the skeletal-neuromuscular junction show that VAChT knockout mice present spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials with reduced amplitude and frequency, which are likely the result of a passive transport of ACh into synaptic vesicles. Interestingly, VAChT knockouts exhibit substantial increases in amounts of choline acetyltransferase, high-affinity choline transporter, and ACh. However, the development of the neuromuscular junction in these mice is severely affected. Mutant VAChT mice show increases in motoneuron and nerve terminal numbers. End plates are large, nerves exhibit abnormal sprouting, and muscle is necrotic. The abnormalities are similar to those of mice that cannot synthesize ACh due to a lack of choline acetyltransferase. Our results indicate that VAChT is essential to the normal development of motor neurons and the release of ACh.

scholarly journals Tenectin recruits integrin to stabilize bouton architecture and regulate vesicle release at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Tae Hee Han ◽  
Peter Nguyen ◽  
Michal Jarnik ◽  
Mihaela Serpe
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Synaptic Cleft ◽  
Membrane Skeleton ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Striated Muscles ◽  
Local Engagement ◽  
Synaptic Junctions ◽  
Synaptic Boutons ◽  
And Function

Assembly, maintenance and function of synaptic junctions depend on extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and their receptors. Here we report that Tenectin (Tnc), a Mucin-type protein with RGD motifs, is an ECM component required for the structural and functional integrity of synaptic specializations at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in Drosophila. Using genetics, biochemistry, electrophysiology, histology and electron microscopy, we show that Tnc is secreted from motor neurons and striated muscles and accumulates in the synaptic cleft. Tnc selectively recruits αPS2/βPS integrin at synaptic terminals, but only the cis Tnc/integrin complexes appear to be biologically active. These complexes have distinct pre- and postsynaptic functions, mediated at least in part through the local engagement of the spectrin-based membrane skeleton: the presynaptic complexes control neurotransmitter release, while postsynaptic complexes ensure the size and architectural integrity of synaptic boutons. Our study reveals an unprecedented role for integrin in the synaptic recruitment of spectrin-based membrane skeleton.

scholarly journals Neto-α controls synapse organization and homeostasis at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Hee Han ◽  
Rosario Vicidomini ◽  
Cathy Isaura Ramos ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Peter Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Independent Function ◽  
Postsynaptic Receptors ◽  
Auxiliary Protein ◽  
And Function

SummaryGlutamate receptor auxiliary proteins control receptor distribution and function, ultimately controlling synapse assembly, maturation and plasticity. At the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a synapse with both pre- and post-synaptic kainate-type glutamate receptors (KARs), we show that the auxiliary protein Neto evolved functionally distinct isoforms to modulate synapse development and homeostasis. Using genetics, cell biology and electrophysiology we demonstrate that Neto-α functions on both sides of the NMJ. In muscle, Neto-α limits the size of the postsynaptic receptors field. In motor neurons, Neto-α controls neurotransmitter release in a KAR-dependent manner. Furthermore, Neto-α is both required and sufficient for the presynaptic increase in neurotransmitter release in response to reduced postsynaptic sensitivity. This KAR-independent function of Neto-α is involved in activity-induced cytomatrix remodeling. We propose that Drosophila ensured NMJ functionality by acquiring two Neto isoforms with differential expression patterns and activities.

Synaptic remodeling at the skeletal neuromuscular junction of acetylcholinesterase knockout mice and its physiological relevance

2005 ◽  
Vol 157-158 ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Girard ◽  
Julien Barbier ◽  
Arnaud Chatonnet ◽  
Eric Krejci ◽  
Jordi Molgó
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Synaptic Remodeling ◽  
Physiological Relevance

scholarly journals Normal Biogenesis and Cycling of Empty Synaptic Vesicles in Dopamine Neurons of Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 Knockout Mice

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 306-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin G. Croft ◽  
Gabriel D. Fortin ◽  
Amadou T. Corera ◽  
Robert H. Edwards ◽  
Alain Beaudet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Vesicular Monoamine Transporter ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Monoamine Transporter ◽  
Vesicle Biogenesis ◽  
And Function ◽  
Activity Dependent

The neuronal isoform of vesicular monoamine transporter, VMAT2, is responsible for packaging dopamine and other monoamines into synaptic vesicles and thereby plays an essential role in dopamine neurotransmission. Dopamine neurons in mice lacking VMAT2 are unable to store or release dopamine from their synaptic vesicles. To determine how VMAT2-mediated filling influences synaptic vesicle morphology and function, we examined dopamine terminals from VMAT2 knockout mice. In contrast to the abnormalities reported in glutamatergic terminals of mice lacking VGLUT1, the corresponding vesicular transporter for glutamate, we found that the ultrastructure of dopamine terminals and synaptic vesicles in VMAT2 knockout mice were indistinguishable from wild type. Using the activity-dependent dyes FM1-43 and FM2-10, we also found that synaptic vesicles in dopamine neurons lacking VMAT2 undergo endocytosis and exocytosis with kinetics identical to those seen in wild-type neurons. Together, these results demonstrate that dopamine synaptic vesicle biogenesis and cycling are independent of vesicle filling with transmitter. By demonstrating that such empty synaptic vesicles can cycle at the nerve terminal, our study suggests that physiological changes in VMAT2 levels or trafficking at the synapse may regulate dopamine release by altering the ratio of fillable-to-empty synaptic vesicles, as both continue to cycle in response to neural activity.

scholarly journals Murine muscle stem cell response to perturbations of the neuromuscular junction are attenuated with aging

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Larouche ◽  
Mahir Mohiuddin ◽  
Jeongmoon J Choi ◽  
Peter J Ulintz ◽  
Paula M Fraczek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neuromuscular Diseases ◽  
Lineage Tracing ◽  
Genetic Rescue ◽  
Muscle Stem Cells ◽  
Transgenic Murine Model ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

During aging and neuromuscular diseases, there is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle volume and function impacting mobility and quality of life. Muscle loss is often associated with denervation and a loss of resident muscle stem cells (satellite cells or MuSCs), however, the relationship between MuSCs and innervation has not been established. Herein, we administered severe neuromuscular trauma to a transgenic murine model that permits MuSC lineage tracing. We show that a subset of MuSCs specifically engraft in a position proximal to the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the synapse between myofibers and motor neurons, in healthy young adult muscles. In aging and in a mouse model of neuromuscular degeneration (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase knockout – Sod1-/-), this localized engraftment behavior was reduced. Genetic rescue of motor neurons in Sod1-/- mice reestablished integrity of the NMJ in a manner akin to young muscle and partially restored MuSC ability to engraft into positions proximal to the NMJ. Using single cell RNA-sequencing of MuSCs isolated from aged muscle, we demonstrate that a subset of MuSCs are molecularly distinguishable from MuSCs responding to myofiber injury and share similarity to synaptic myonuclei. Collectively, these data reveal unique features of MuSCs that respond to synaptic perturbations caused by aging and other stressors.

scholarly journals A screen for genes that regulate synaptic growth reveals mechanisms that stabilize synaptic strength

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pragya Goel ◽  
Mehak Khan ◽  
Samantha Howard ◽  
Beril Kiragasi ◽  
Koto Kikuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Zone Structure ◽  
Synaptic Growth ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings ◽  
And Function

ABSTRACTSynapses grow, prune, and remodel throughout development, experience, and disease. This structural plasticity can destabilize information transfer in the nervous system. However, neural activity remains remarkably stable throughout life, implying that adaptive countermeasures exist to stabilize neurotransmission. Aberrant synaptic structure and function has been associated with a variety of neural diseases including Fragile X syndrome, autism, and intellectual disability. We have screened disruptions in over 300 genes in Drosophila for defects in synaptic growth at the neuromuscular junction. This effort identified 12 mutants with severe reductions or enhancements in synaptic growth. Remarkably, electrophysiological recordings revealed synaptic strength in all but one of these mutants was unchanged compared to wild type. We utilized a combination of genetic, anatomical, and electrophysiological analyses to illuminate three mechanisms that stabilize synaptic strength in the face of alterations in synaptic growth. These include compensatory changes in 1) postsynaptic receptor abundance; 2) presynaptic morphology; and 3) active zone structure. Together, this analysis identifies new genes that regulate synaptic growth and the adaptive strategies that synapses employ to homeostatically stabilize synaptic strength in response.AUTHOR SUMMARYThroughout development, maturation, experience, and disease, synapses undergo dramatic changes in growth and remodeling. Although these processes are necessary for learning and memory, they pose major challenges to stable function in the nervous system. However, neurotransmission is typically constrained within narrow physiological ranges, implying the existence of homeostatic mechanisms that maintain stable functionality despite drastic alterations in synapse number. In this study we investigate the relationship between synaptic growth and function across a variety of mutations in neural and synaptic genes in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Using the neuromuscular junction as a model system, we reveal three adaptive mechanisms that stabilize synaptic strength when synapses are dramatically under- or over-grown. Together, these findings provide insights into the strategies employed at both pre- and post-synaptic compartments to ensure stable functionality while allowing considerable flexibility in overall synapse number.

Mechanisms Regulating Neuromuscular Junction Development and Function and Causes of Muscle Wasting

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 809-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel A. Tintignac ◽  
Hans-Rudolf Brenner ◽  
Markus A. Rüegg
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Muscle Wasting ◽  
Chemical Synapse ◽  
Neuromuscular Activity ◽  
Medical Need ◽  
Metabolic Properties ◽  
And Function

The neuromuscular junction is the chemical synapse between motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers. It is designed to reliably convert the action potential from the presynaptic motor neuron into the contraction of the postsynaptic muscle fiber. Diseases that affect the neuromuscular junction may cause failure of this conversion and result in loss of ambulation and respiration. The loss of motor input also causes muscle wasting as muscle mass is constantly adapted to contractile needs by the balancing of protein synthesis and protein degradation. Finally, neuromuscular activity and muscle mass have a major impact on metabolic properties of the organisms. This review discusses the mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction, the consequences of and the mechanisms involved in its dysfunction, and its role in maintaining muscle mass during aging. As life expectancy is increasing, loss of muscle mass during aging, called sarcopenia, has emerged as a field of high medical need. Interestingly, aging is also accompanied by structural changes at the neuromuscular junction, suggesting that the mechanisms involved in neuromuscular junction maintenance might be disturbed during aging. In addition, there is now evidence that behavioral paradigms and signaling pathways that are involved in longevity also affect neuromuscular junction stability and sarcopenia.

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