Dynein acts to cluster glutamate receptors and traffic the PIP5 kinase, Skittles, to regulate postsynaptic membrane organization at the neuromuscular junction

Cytoplasmic dynein is essential in motoneurons for retrograde cargo transport that sustains neuronal connectivity. Little, however, is known about dynein's function on the postsynaptic side of the circuit. Here we report distinct postsynaptic roles for dynein at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Intriguingly, we show that dynein punctae accumulate postsynaptically at glutamatergic synaptic terminals. Moreover, Skittles, a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase that produces PI(4,5)P2 to organize the spectrin cytoskeleton, also localizes specifically to glutamatergic synaptic terminals. Depletion of postsynaptic dynein disrupts the accumulation of Skittles, PI(4,5)P2 phospholipid, and organization of the spectrin cytoskeleton at the postsynaptic membrane. Coincidental with dynein depletion, we observe an increase in the clusters size of ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR), and an increase in the amplitude and frequency of mEJPs. However, PI(4,5)P2 levels do not affect iGluR clustering and dynein does not affect the protein levels of iGluR subunits at the NMJ, suggesting a separate, transport independent function for dynein in iGluR cluster organization. As dynein punctae closely associate with iGluR clusters, we propose that dynein physically tethers iGluR clusters at the postsynaptic membrane to ensure proper synaptic transmission.

Surface charge manipulation and electrostatic immobilization of synaptosomes for super-resolution imaging: a study on tau compartmentalization

Synaptosomes are subcellular fractions prepared from brain tissues that are enriched in synaptic terminals, widely used for the study of neural transmission and synaptic dysfunction. Immunofluorescence imaging is increasingly applied to synaptosomes to investigate protein localization. However, conventional methods for imaging synaptosomes over glass coverslips suffer from formaldehyde-induced aggregation. Here, we developed a facile strategy to capture and image synaptosomes without aggregation artefacts. First, ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) (EGS) is chosen as the chemical fixative to replace formaldehyde. EGS/glycine treatment makes the zeta potential of synaptosomes more negative. Second, we modified glass coverslips with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to impart positive charges. EGS-fixed synaptosomes spontaneously attach to modified glasses via electrostatic attraction while maintaining good dispersion. Individual synaptic terminals are imaged by conventional fluorescence microscopy or by super-resolution techniques such as direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM). We examined tau protein by two-color and three-color dSTORM to understand its spatial distribution within mouse cortical synapses, observing tau colocalization with synaptic vesicles as well postsynaptic densities.

Prolonged Amphetamine Exposures Increase the Endogenous Human Dopamine Receptors 2 at the Cellular Membrane in Cells Lacking the Dopamine Transporter

The dopamine 2 receptors (D2R) are G-protein coupled receptors expressed both in pre- and post-synaptic terminals that play an important role in mediating the physiological and behavioral effects of amphetamine (Amph). Previous studies have indicated that the effects of Amph at the D2R mainly rely on the ability of Amph to robustly increase extracellular dopamine through the dopamine transporter (DAT). This implies that the effects of Amph on D2R require the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, because of its lipophilic nature, Amph can cross the cellular membrane and thus potentially affect D2R expression independently of dopamine and DAT, e.g., in post-synaptic terminals. Here we used an in vitro system to study whether Amph affects total expression, cellular distribution, and function of the human D2R (hD2R), endogenously expressed in HEK293 cells. By performing Western blot experiments, we found that prolonged treatments with 1 or 50 μM Amph cause a significant decrease of the endogenous hD2R in cells transfected with human DAT (hDAT). On the other hand, in cells lacking expression of DAT, quantification of the hD2R-mediated changes in cAMP, biotinylation assays, Western blots and imaging experiments demonstrated an increase of hD2R at the cellular membrane after 15-h treatments with Amph. Moreover, imaging data suggested that barbadin, a specific inhibitor of the βarrestin-βadaptin interaction, blocked the Amph-induced increase of hD2R. Taken together our data suggest that prolonged exposures to Amph decrease or increase the endogenous hD2R at the cellular membrane in HEK293 cells expressing or lacking hDAT, respectively. Considering that this drug is often consumed for prolonged periods, during which tolerance develops, our data suggest that even in absence of DAT or dopamine, Amph can still alter D2R distribution and function.

Surface Charge Manipulation and Electrostatic Immobilization of Synaptosomes for Super-resolution Imaging: A Study on Tau Compartmentalization

Synaptosomes are subcellular fractions prepared from brain tissues that are enriched in synaptic terminals, widely used for the study of neural transmission and synaptic dysfunction. Immunofluorescence imaging is increasingly applied to synaptosomes to investigate protein localization. However, conventional methods for imaging synaptosomes over glass coverslips suffer from formaldehyde-induced aggregation. Here, we developed a simple and facile strategy to capture and image synaptosomes without aggregation artefacts. First, ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) (EGS) is chosen as the chemical fixative to replace formaldehyde. EGS/glycine treatment makes the zeta potential of synaptosomes more negative. Second, we modified glass coverslips with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to impart positive charges. EGS-fixed synaptosomes spontaneously attach to modified glasses via electrostatic attraction while maintaining good dispersion. Individual synaptic terminals are imaged by conventional fluorescence microscopy or by super-resolution techniques such as direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM). We examined tau protein by two-color and three-color dSTORM to understand its spatial distribution within mouse cortical synapses, observing tau colocalization with synaptic vesicles as well postsynaptic densities.

Rab2 regulates presynaptic precursor vesicle biogenesis at the trans-Golgi

Reliable delivery of presynaptic material, including active zone and synaptic vesicle proteins from neuronal somata to synaptic terminals, is prerequisite for successful synaptogenesis and neurotransmission. However, molecular mechanisms controlling the somatic assembly of presynaptic precursors remain insufficiently understood. We show here that in mutants of the small GTPase Rab2, both active zone and synaptic vesicle proteins accumulated in the neuronal cell body at the trans-Golgi and were, consequently, depleted at synaptic terminals, provoking neurotransmission deficits. Ectopic presynaptic material accumulations consisted of heterogeneous vesicles and short tubules of 40 × 60 nm, segregating in subfractions either positive for active zone or synaptic vesicle proteins and LAMP1, a lysosomal membrane protein. Genetically, Rab2 acts upstream of Arl8, a lysosomal adaptor controlling axonal export of precursors. Collectively, we identified a Golgi-associated assembly sequence of presynaptic precursor biogenesis dependent on a Rab2-regulated protein export and sorting step at the trans-Golgi.

The structural base for changes in the interneuronal communication of CA3 neurons in the hippocampus of white rats after severe traumatic brain injury

Цель - изучение пирамидных нейронов поля СА3 гиппокампа белых крыс в динамике после тяжелой черепно-мозговой травмы (ТЧМТ). Методы. ТЧМТ моделировали под наркозом с помощью свободно падающего груза массой 200-250 г с высоты 50 см на теменно-затылочную область. Гиппокамп изучали в контроле (n=5), через 1, 3, 5, 7 и 14 сут после ТЧМТ (n=25). Общую оценку состояния нейронов поля СА3 проводили на препаратах окрашенных гематоксилином-эозином, численную плотность нейронов - при окраске по Нисслю, цитоскелет нейронов изучали с помощью реакции иммунотипирования нейрон-специфического структурного белка (МАР-2), синаптические терминали - иммунотипирования синаптофизина (p38). Для визуализации MAP-2 нейронов и р38 синаптических терминалей использовали мультимерный набор NovolinkTM (DAB) Polymer Detection System (Leica Biosystems Newcastle Ltd, Великобритания). Морфометрический анализ проводили на цветных растровых и бинарных изображениях с использованием плагинов программы ImageJ 1.52s. Определяли относительную площадь зон отека-набухания, численную плотность пирамидных нейронов, количество дистрофически и некробиотически измененных нейронов, общую и относительную площадь синаптических терминалей. Результаты. Через 1 сут после ТЧМТ нарастали явления отека-набухания, увеличивалось количество дистрофически и некробиотически измененных нейронов, уменьшалась общая и относительная площадь терминалей. В течение 14 сут общая плотность нейронов уменьшилась на 31%. Параллельно активировались механизмы нейро- и синаптической пластичности, в результате чего восстанавливался цитоскелет поврежденных нейронов и увеличивалось количество межнейронных синапсов (в 1,32 раза выше контроля). Заключение. Восстановление структур межнейронной коммуникации происходило на фоне уменьшения общей численной плотности пирамидных нейронов. Выявленные изменения рассматриваются как основа перманентной компенсаторно-восстановительной реорганизации межнейронных отношений гиппокампа на фоне вторичной ишемии головного мозга. Aim. To study changes in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons of white rats after severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). Methods. STBI was modeled with a free-falling weight (200-250 g) impact. The hippocampus was studied in control rats (n=5) 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after STBI (n=25). The CA3 field neurons were examined on preparations stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the number of neurons was determined with Nissl staining. The neuronal cytoskeleton was studied by immunotyping of the neuron-specific structural protein MAP-2, and synaptic terminals were studied by immunotyping of synaptophysin (p38). Neuronal MAP-2 and p38 were visualized with a multimeric Novolink™ (DAB) Polymer Detection Systems kit (Leica Biosystems Newcastle Ltd, Great Britain). Morphometric analysis was performed on color raster and binary images using ImageJ 1.52s plugins to determine the relative area of edema and swelling zones, number density of pyramidal neurons, content of dystrophic and necrobiotically altered neurons, and total and relative areas of synaptic terminals. Results. On the next day after STBI, manifestations of edema and swelling and the content of dystrophic and necrobiotically altered neurons were increased whereas the total and relative areas of terminals were decreased. In 14 days, the total density of neurons decreased by 31%, which was in parallel with activation of mechanisms for neuro- and synaptic plasticity. As a result, the cytoskeleton of damaged neurons recovered, and the content of interneuronal synapses increased 1.32 times compared to the control. Conclusion. The structural recovery of interneuronal communication was associated with a decrease in the total number density of pyramidal neurons. These changes were regarded as a base for permanent compensatory and restorative reorganization of hippocampal interneuronal relations in secondary cerebral ischemia.

Synaptic Properties of Sensory Thalamus

Detailed studies of thalamic circuits have revealed many features that are shared across nuclei. For example, glutamatergic inputs to the thalamus can be placed into three categories based on the size of the synaptic terminals they form, their synaptic arrangements, and the postsynaptic responses they elicit. Remarkably, these three categories can be identified in most sensory nuclei of the dorsal thalamus. Likewise, in most sensory thalamic nuclei, circuits that release the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) can be placed into two general categories based on their dendritic or axonal origins. Finally, similar cholinergic circuits have been identified across thalamic nuclei. The ultimate goal of examining the shared versus diverse features of thalamic circuits is to identify fundamental modules, mechanisms, and/or conceptual frameworks, in order to decipher thalamic function.