Non-microtubule tubulin-based backbone and subordinate components of postsynaptic density lattices

A purification protocol was developed to identify and analyze the component proteins of a postsynaptic density (PSD) lattice, a core structure of the PSD of excitatory synapses in the central nervous system. “Enriched”- and “lean”-type PSD lattices were purified by synaptic plasma membrane treatment to identify the protein components by comprehensive shotgun mass spectrometry and group them into minimum essential cytoskeleton (MEC) and non-MEC components. Tubulin was found to be a major component of the MEC, with non-microtubule tubulin widely distributed on the purified PSD lattice. The presence of tubulin in and around PSDs was verified by post-embedding immunogold labeling EM of cerebral cortex. Non-MEC proteins included various typical scaffold/adaptor PSD proteins and other class PSD proteins. Thus, this study provides a new PSD lattice model consisting of non-microtubule tubulin-based backbone and various non-MEC proteins. Our findings suggest that tubulin is a key component constructing the backbone and that the associated components are essential for the versatile functions of the PSD.

Postnatal expression profiles of atypical cadherin FAT1 suggest its role in autism

Genetic studies have linked FAT1 (FAT atypical cadherin 1) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, the role that FAT1 plays in ASD remains unknown. In mice, the function of Fat1 has been primarily implicated in embryonic nervous system development with less known about its role in postnatal development. We show for the first time that FAT1 protein is expressed in mouse postnatal brains and is enriched in the cerebellum, where it localizes to granule neurons and Golgi cells in the granule layer, as well as inhibitory neurons in the molecular layer. Furthermore, subcellular characterization revealed FAT1 localization in neurites and soma of granule neurons, as well as being present in the synaptic plasma membrane and postsynaptic densities. Interestingly, FAT1 expression was decreased in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural precursor cells (NPCs) from individuals with ASD. These findings suggest a novel role for FAT1 in postnatal development and may be particularly important for cerebellum function. As the cerebellum is one of the vulnerable brain regions in ASD, our study warrants further investigation of FAT1 in the disease etiology.

T202. THE EFFECT OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS ON MEMBRANE FUSION: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Background Common clinical use of antipsychotics (AP) drugs shows that their therapeutic mode of action still needs further clarification although it is admitted that the Dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) antagonism plays a significant role. For instance, clozapine (CLOZ) - which is known to be the most effective AP in treating schizophrenic symptoms - has strikingly the lowest D2R antagonism. Non direct receptor-related effects might thus be involved in the activity of AP at the synapse level. AP, as well as neurotransmitters, are mostly lipophilic and insert within membranes. This characteristic is of interest as a significant proportion of schizophrenic patients has specific and abnormal membrane lipid composition. This possible proxy of the disease biotype can participate in the disease’s physiopathology but also be critical for the effect of AP drugs. We hypothesize that AP insertion into lipid membranes also contribute to their therapeutic effect. AP-induced modifications of synaptic membranes biophysics are likely to influence neurotransmission. In this study, we focus on the effect of AP on membrane fusion, a crucial step for the exocytosis of neurotransmitters. Methods Liposomes modelling synaptic vesicles were reconstituted in saline buffer. Two standard ternary and quaternary lipid mixtures have been studied: phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine:phosphatidylserine (PC:PE:PS) [65:25:10] and the synaptic-like PC:PE:PS:sphingomyelin:cholesterol (PC:PE:PS:SM:CHOL) [25:25:10:10:30]. Some liposomes were protein-free and others were functionalized with Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor Attachment protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins, which trigger in vivo the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the pre-synaptic plasma membrane. The liposome size was checked by Dynamic Light Scattering. Insertion of AP within the membrane was checked by second derivative spectroscopy. Fusion was measured by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer in the absence or presence of CLOZ or chlorpromazine (CPZ) at various lipid:AP ratios (10:1 to 100000:1). Protein-free liposomes were fused with Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and SNARE liposomes through the action of cognate SNARE proteins residing in their membrane. Results Liposomes of the same lipid composition were of the same size, with no effect of the addition of AP drugs at various concentrations. Molar partition coefficient of AP drugs within the membrane of protein-free liposomes was approximately 70–85%. CPZ or CLOZ inhibited the fusion of PC:PE:PS liposomes by about 20–40%. When liposomes were synaptic-like (PC:PE:PS:SM:CHOL), the inhibition of fusion by AP drugs reached 50%. CLOZ also inhibited SNARE-mediated fusion of PC:PE:PS liposomes by about 30%. This effect on SNARE-mediated fusion was not observed with CPZ. Discussion Altogether, these results, despite preliminary, could help to understand partially a non direct receptor-related effect of antipsychotics. Indeed, these drugs also seem to modify membrane dynamics at the synapse level. This seems to be particularly the case of CLOZ on SNARE-mediated fusion and could explain its specific therapeutic efficiency.