scholarly journals Intact synapse structure and function after combined knockout of PTPδ, PTPσ and LAR

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Emperador-Melero ◽  
Giovanni de Nola ◽  
Pascal S Kaeser

It has long been proposed that Leukocyte common Antigen-Related Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) are cell-adhesion proteins that control synapse assembly. Their synaptic nanoscale localization, however, is not established, and synapse fine structure after knockout of the three vertebrate LAR-RPTPs (PTPδ, PTPσ and LAR) has not been tested. Here, superresolution microscopy reveals that PTPδ localizes to the synaptic cleft precisely apposed to postsynaptic scaffolds of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We next assessed synapse structure in newly generated triple-conditional knockout mice for PTPδ, PTPσ and LAR, complementing a recent independent study of synapse function after LAR-RPTP ablation (Sclip and Südhof, 2020). While mild effects on synaptic vesicle clustering and active zone architecture were detected, synapse numbers and their overall structure were unaffected, membrane anchoring of the active zone persisted, and vesicle docking and release were normal. Hence, despite their localization at synaptic appositions, LAR-RPTPs are dispensable for presynapse structure and function.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Emperador-Melero ◽  
Giovanni de Nola ◽  
Pascal S. Kaeser

AbstractIt has long been proposed that Leukocyte common Antigen-Related Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) are cell-adhesion proteins for the control of synapse assembly. Their synaptic nanoscale localization, however, has not been established, and the fine structure of synapses after knockout of the three vertebrate genes for LAR-RPTPs (PTPδ, PTPσ and LAR) has not been tested. Here, we find that PTPδ is precisely apposed to postsynaptic scaffolds at excitatory and inhibitory synapses using superresolution microscopy. We generated triple-conditional knockout mice for PTPδ, PTPσ and LAR to test whether they are essential for synapse structure. While mild effects on synaptic vesicle clustering and active zone architecture were detected, synapse numbers and their overall structure were unaffected, membrane anchoring of the active zone persisted, and vesicle docking and release were normal. We conclude that LAR-RPTPs, despite their localization at synaptic appositions, are dispensable for the organization and function of presynaptic nerve terminals.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Lindsey Friend ◽  
Rosario Vicidomini ◽  
Tae Hee Han ◽  
Peter Nguyen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe have previously reported that Drosophila Tenectin (Tnc) recruits αPS2/βPS integrin to ensure structural and functional integrity at larval NMJs (Wang et al., 2018). In muscles, Tnc/integrin engages the spectrin network to regulate the size and architecture of synaptic boutons. In neurons, Tnc/integrin controls neurotransmitter release. Here we show that presynaptic Tnc/integrin modulates the synaptic accumulation of key active zone components, including the Ca2+ channel Cac and the active zone scaffold Brp. Presynaptic α-Spectrin appears to be both required and sufficient for the recruitment of Cac and Brp. We visualized the endogenous α-Spectrin and found that Tnc controls spectrin recruitment at synaptic terminals. Thus, Tnc/integrin anchors the presynaptic spectrin network and ensures the proper assembly and function of the active zones. Since pre- and postsynaptic Tnc/integrin limit each other, we hypothesize that this pathway links dynamic changes within the synaptic cleft to changes in synaptic structure and function.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mizielinska ◽  
S. Greenwood ◽  
C.N. Connolly

Maintaining the correct balance in neuronal activation is of paramount importance to normal brain function. Imbalances due to changes in excitation or inhibition can lead to a variety of disorders ranging from the clinically extreme (e.g. epilepsy) to the more subtle (e.g. anxiety). In the brain, the most common inhibitory synapses are regulated by GABAA (γ-aminobutyric acid type A) receptors, a role commensurate with their importance as therapeutic targets. Remarkably, we still know relatively little about GABAA receptor biogenesis. Receptors are constructed as pentameric ion channels, with α and β subunits being the minimal requirement, and the incorporation of a γ subunit being necessary for benzodiazepine modulation and synaptic targeting. Insights have been provided by the discovery of several specific assembly signals within different GABAA receptor subunits. Moreover, a number of recent studies on GABAA receptor mutations associated with epilepsy have further enhanced our understanding of GABAA receptor biogenesis, structure and function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706-1724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pragya Goel ◽  
Dominique Dufour Bergeron ◽  
Mathias A. Böhme ◽  
Luke Nunnelly ◽  
Martin Lehmann ◽  
...  

Synaptic terminals grow and retract throughout life, yet synaptic strength is maintained within stable physiological ranges. To study this process, we investigated Drosophila endophilin (endo) mutants. Although active zone (AZ) number is doubled in endo mutants, a compensatory reduction in their size homeostatically adjusts global neurotransmitter output to maintain synaptic strength. We find an inverse adaptation in rab3 mutants. Additional analyses using confocal, STED, and electron microscopy reveal a stoichiometric tuning of AZ scaffolds and nanoarchitecture. Axonal transport of synaptic cargo via the lysosomal kinesin adapter Arl8 regulates AZ abundance to modulate global synaptic output and sustain the homeostatic potentiation of neurotransmission. Finally, we find that this AZ scaling can interface with two independent homeostats, depression and potentiation, to remodel AZ structure and function, demonstrating a robust balancing of separate homeostatic adaptations. Thus, AZs are pliable substrates with elastic and modular nanostructures that can be dynamically sculpted to stabilize and tune both local and global synaptic strength.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2657
Author(s):  
Ralph Gräf ◽  
Marianne Grafe ◽  
Irene Meyer ◽  
Kristina Mitic ◽  
Valentin Pitzen

The centrosome of Dictyostelium amoebae contains no centrioles and consists of a cylindrical layered core structure surrounded by a corona harboring microtubule-nucleating γ-tubulin complexes. It is the major centrosomal model beyond animals and yeasts. Proteomics, protein interaction studies by BioID and superresolution microscopy methods led to considerable progress in our understanding of the composition, structure and function of this centrosome type. We discuss all currently known components of the Dictyostelium centrosome in comparison to other centrosomes of animals and yeasts.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth C Davenport ◽  
Blanka Szulc ◽  
James Drew ◽  
James Taylor ◽  
Toby Morgan ◽  
...  

Altered excitatory/inhibitory balance is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders but the genetic aetiology of this is still poorly understood. Copy number variations in CYFIP1 are associated with autism, schizophrenia and intellectual disability but the role of CYFIP1 in regulating synaptic inhibition or excitatory/inhibitory balance remains unclear. We show, CYFIP1, and its paralogue CYFIP2, are enriched at inhibitory postsynaptic sites. While upregulation of CYFIP1 or CYFIP2 increased excitatory synapse number and the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), it had the opposite effect at inhibitory synapses, decreasing their size and the amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Contrary to CYFIP1 upregulation, its loss in vivo, upon conditional knockout in neocortical principal cells, increased expression of postsynaptic GABA A receptor β2/3-subunits and neuroligin 3 and enhanced synaptic inhibition. Thus, CYFIP1 dosage can bi-directionally impact inhibitory synaptic structure and function, potentially leading to altered excitatory/inhibitory balance and circuit dysfunction in CYFIP1-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.


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