scholarly journals Metazoan evolution of glutamate receptors reveals unreported phylogenetic groups and divergent lineage-specific events

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ramos-Vicente ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Esther Gratacòs-Batlle ◽  
Gemma Gou ◽  
Rita Reig-Viader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Metazoan Evolution ◽  
Class Iv

Glutamate receptors are divided in two unrelated families: ionotropic (iGluR), driving synaptic transmission, and metabotropic (mGluR), which modulate synaptic strength. The present classification of GluRs is based on vertebrate proteins and has remained unchanged for over two decades. Here we report an exhaustive phylogenetic study of GluRs in metazoans. Importantly, we demonstrate that GluRs have followed different evolutionary histories in separated animal lineages. Our analysis reveals that the present organization of iGluRs into six classes does not capture the full complexity of their evolution. Instead, we propose an organization into four subfamilies and ten classes, four of which have never been previously described. Furthermore, we report a sister class to mGluR classes I-III, class IV. We show that many unreported proteins are expressed in the nervous system, and that new Epsilon receptors form functional ligand-gated ion channels. We propose an updated classification of glutamate receptors that includes our findings.

scholarly journals Regulation of glutamate receptor subunit availability by microRNAs

2009 ◽  
Vol 185 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Karr ◽  
Vasia Vagin ◽  
Kaiyun Chen ◽  
Subhashree Ganesan ◽  
Oxana Olenkina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Receptor Subunit ◽  
Glutamate Receptor Subunit

The efficacy of synaptic transmission depends, to a large extent, on postsynaptic receptor abundance. The molecular mechanisms controlling receptor abundance are poorly understood. We tested whether abundance of postsynaptic glutamate receptors (GluRs) in Drosophila neuromuscular junctions is controlled by microRNAs, and provide evidence that it is. We show here that postsynaptic knockdown of dicer-1, the endoribonuclease necessary for microRNA synthesis, leads to large increases in postsynaptic GluR subunit messenger RNA and protein. Specifically, we measured increases in GluRIIA and GluRIIB but not GluRIIC. Further, knockout of MiR-284, a microRNA predicted to bind to GluRIIA and GluRIIB but not GluRIIC, increases expression of GluRIIA and GluRIIB but not GluRIIC proportional to the number of predicted binding sites in each transcript. Most of the de-repressed GluR protein, however, does not appear to be incorporated into functional receptors, and only minor changes in synaptic strength are observed, which suggests that microRNAs primarily regulate Drosophila receptor subunit composition rather than overall receptor abundance or synaptic strength.

Translational control of synaptic plasticity

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1527-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel D. Richter
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Memory Formation ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Flow Of Information

Synapses, points of contact between axons and dendrites, are conduits for the flow of information in the circuitry of the central nervous system. The strength of synaptic transmission reflects the interconnectedness of the axons and dendrites at synapses; synaptic strength in turn is modified by the frequency with which the synapses are stimulated. This modulation of synaptic strength, or synaptic plasticity, probably forms the cellular basis for learning and memory. RNA metabolism, particularly translational control at or near the synapse, is one process that controls long-lasting synaptic plasticity and, by extension, memory formation and consolidation. In the present paper, I review some salient features of translational control of synaptic plasticity.

scholarly journals The Effects of General Anesthetics on Synaptic Transmission

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 936-965
Author(s):  
Xuechao Hao ◽  
Mengchan Ou ◽  
Donghang Zhang ◽  
Wenling Zhao ◽  
Yaoxin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Molecular Targets ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
General Anesthetics ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
The Central Nervous System

General anesthetics are a class of drugs that target the central nervous system and are widely used for various medical procedures. General anesthetics produce many behavioral changes required for clinical intervention, including amnesia, hypnosis, analgesia, and immobility; while they may also induce side effects like respiration and cardiovascular depressions. Understanding the mechanism of general anesthesia is essential for the development of selective general anesthetics which can preserve wanted pharmacological actions and exclude the side effects and underlying neural toxicities. However, the exact mechanism of how general anesthetics work is still elusive. Various molecular targets have been identified as specific targets for general anesthetics. Among these molecular targets, ion channels are the most principal category, including ligand-gated ionotropic receptors like γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate and acetylcholine receptors, voltage-gated ion channels like voltage-gated sodium channel, calcium channel and potassium channels, and some second massager coupled channels. For neural functions of the central nervous system, synaptic transmission is the main procedure for which information is transmitted between neurons through brain regions, and intact synaptic function is fundamentally important for almost all the nervous functions, including consciousness, memory, and cognition. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of general anesthetics on synaptic transmission via modulations of specific ion channels and relevant molecular targets, which can lead to the development of safer general anesthetics with selective actions. The present review will summarize the effects of various general anesthetics on synaptic transmissions and plasticity.

scholarly journals New light on neurotransmitter-gated receptors: Optical approaches for controlling physiological function

Neuroforum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. A159-A167
Author(s):  
Andreas Reiner
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Control Individual ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Receptor Signaling ◽  
Temporal Precision

Abstract Neurotransmitter-gated receptors contribute to synaptic transmission and modulation in many ways. Considering glutamate receptors as an example, it becomes clear that these receptor families are highly diverse and that it is experimentally challenging to disentangle the different functional contributions of closely related receptor subtypes. Pharmacological and genetic methods are now complemented by optogenetic approaches, which allow for controlling receptor signaling with light. Using glutamate receptors as an example, I summarize how tethered photoswitchable ligands can be used to control individual receptor subtypes with high spatial and temporal precision, and in specific cells. These, and similarly exciting approaches, offer new possibilities for probing the function of individual receptors in the nervous system.

scholarly journals Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1945) ◽  
pp. 20203055
Author(s):  
Scott D. Evans ◽  
Mary L. Droser ◽  
Douglas H. Erwin
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
White Sea ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Developmental Processes ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Genetic Pathways ◽  
Metazoan Evolution ◽  
Ediacara Biota ◽  
Early Metazoan

The Ediacara Biota preserves the oldest fossil evidence of abundant, complex metazoans. Despite their significance, assigning individual taxa to specific phylogenetic groups has proved problematic. To better understand these forms, we identify developmentally controlled characters in representative taxa from the Ediacaran White Sea assemblage and compare them with the regulatory tools underlying similar traits in modern organisms. This analysis demonstrates that the genetic pathways for multicellularity, axial polarity, musculature, and a nervous system were likely present in some of these early animals. Equally meaningful is the absence of evidence for major differentiation of macroscopic body units, including distinct organs, localized sensory machinery or appendages. Together these traits help to better constrain the phylogenetic position of several key Ediacara taxa and inform our views of early metazoan evolution. An apparent lack of heads with concentrated sensory machinery or ventral nerve cords in such taxa supports the hypothesis that these evolved independently in disparate bilaterian clades.

scholarly journals Author response: Metazoan evolution of glutamate receptors reveals unreported phylogenetic groups and divergent lineage-specific events

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ramos-Vicente ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Esther Gratacòs-Batlle ◽  
Gemma Gou ◽  
Rita Reig-Viader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Author Response ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Metazoan Evolution ◽  
Divergent Lineage

Acid-Sensing Ion Channels

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Gründer
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Acid Sensing Ion Channels ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Pathological Pain

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated Na+ channels. Being almost ubiquitously present in neurons of the vertebrate nervous system, their precise function remained obscure for a long time. Various animal toxins that bind to ASICs with high affinity and specificity have been tremendously helpful in uncovering the role of ASICs. We now know that they contribute to synaptic transmission at excitatory synapses as well as to sensing metabolic acidosis and nociception. Moreover, detailed characterization of mouse models uncovered an unanticipated role of ASICs in disorders of the nervous system like stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pathological pain. This review provides an overview on the expression, structure, and pharmacology of ASICs plus a summary of what is known and what is still unknown about their physiological functions and their roles in diseases.

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