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Suppression of transmitter release by Tat HPC-1/syntaxin 1A fusion protein.

It has been reported that the fusion protein with the protein transduction domain (PTD) peptide of HIV-1 Tat protein can be internalized through the cell membrane of intact cells, although the exact mechanism is unknown. In this report, we investigated whether this new method could be used for the molecular analysis of exocytosis via HPC-1/syntaxin 1A, which plays an important role in transmitter release. When applied to PC12 cells, Tat PTD fusion proteins were rapidly internalized into most cells. In order to show that the internalized protein remained biologically active, the H3 domain of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A was fused to Tat PTD (Tat-H3). Transmitter release in PC12 cells was suppressed by Tat-H3 treatment. These results indicate that the Tat fusion protein is a useful tool for analyzing the process of transmitter release.

Animals↗

Transient decrease of HPC-1/syntaxin-1A mRNA in the rat hippocampus by kainic acid.

HPC-1/syntaxin-1A is a neuronal protein of which the mRNA has an immediate early gene-like structure in its 3'-untranslated region. Whereas HPC-1/syntaxin-1A protein plays a crucial role in neurotransmitter release, little is known about HPC-1 gene expression. We demonstrate here that HPC-1 mRNA expression in rat hippocampal neurons in vivo decreased 8 h after kainic acid (KA) administration, but was restored thereafter. The transient decrease of HPC-1 mRNA upon KA administration suggests that the HPC-1 mRNA expression in neurons could be altered by excitation by trans-synaptic stimulation.

Animals↗

Regional and developmental regulation of syntaphilin expression in the brain: a candidate molecular element of synaptic functional differentiation.

The conserved nature of the basic machinery underlying synaptic function makes it necessary to search for other factors--structural and molecular--that could account for the tremendous diversity found among synapses even within a single neuron. Syntaphilin is a presynaptic membrane protein previously described as a molecular clamp that controls free syntaxin-1A and dynamin-1 availability, and thereby regulates synaptic vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis at the nerve terminal. In this study, we report our finding that syntaphilin expression is developmentally regulated, and show that syntaphilin is expressed most prominently in the mature rat brain, in areas that have been previously characterized to undergo synaptic plastic change. We also find that syntaphilin undergoes divergent subcellular targeting to the mitochondrial outer membrane and the synaptic plasma membrane, giving rise to two neuronal subpopulations of the protein that are modified in their relative enrichment with synaptic maturation and with the formation of cell contacts. Finally, we demonstrate that syntaphilin expression is initiated with induction of neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells. Given its biochemical and functional properties, the spatially and temporally limited nature of syntaphilin expression provides evidence that syntaphilin could be a molecular element of synaptic functional differentiation.

Animals↗

Reduction of neurotransmitter release by the exogenous H3 domain peptide of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

The membrane protein HPC-1/syntaxin 1A plays a key role in synaptic vesicle exocytosis in the presynaptic terminal. In particular, the H3 domain of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A participates in several protein-protein interactions that regulate neurotransmitter release. To investigate H3 domain function in neurotransmitter release, we used paired whole-cell patch clamping to record the evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents in cultured hippocampal neurons. Introducing H3 domain peptide into the presynaptic neuron with a patch electrode depressed neurotransmitter release in a stimulation-frequency-dependent manner. Recovery from synaptic vesicle depletion induced by tetanic stimulation was significantly slowed by exogenous H3 domain peptide. These results suggest that the H3 domain peptide reduces neurotransmitter release by retarding the refilling of readily releasable vesicles.

Animals↗

Prion protein deposition and abnormal synaptic protein expression in the cerebellum in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Prion protein (PrP(C)) is a cell membrane-anchored glycoprotein, which is replaced by a pathogenic protease-resistant, beta-sheet-containing isoform (PrP(CJD) or PrP(SC)) in human and animal prion encephalopathies, including sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Cell fractionation methods show that PrP(C) localizes in presynaptic membrane-enriched fractions. Following infection, abnormal PrP accumulates in nerve cell processes and synaptic regions. The present study examines the possible correlation between abnormal PrP deposition and the expression of synaptic proteins controlling neurotransmission in the cerebellum of six 129 Met/Met sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Aggregates of protease-resistant PrP-positive granules, reminiscent of cerebellar glomeruli, were found in the granular cell layer, whereas fine punctate PrP-immunoreactive deposits occurred in the molecular layer. Small numbers of diffuse, irregular plaque-like PrP deposits in the molecular and granular cell layers were present in every case. The somas of Purkinje cells, and stellate, basket and Golgi neurons, were not immunostained. PrP-immunoreactive fibres were found in the album of the cerebellum and hilus of the dentate nucleus. Punctate PrP deposition decorated the neuropil of the dentate nucleus and the surface of dentate neurons. Synaptic protein expression was examined with synaptophysin, synapsin-1, synaptosomal-associated protein of 25,000 mol. wt, syntaxin-1 and Rab3a immunohistochemistry. Reduced synaptophysin, synapsin-1, synaptosomal-associated protein of 25,000 mol. wt, syntaxin-1 and Rab3a immunoreactivity was noted in the granular cell layer in every case, but reduced expression was inconstant in the molecular layer. Synaptophysin accumulated in axon torpedoes, thus indicating abnormal axon transport. Expression of synaptic proteins was relatively preserved in the dentate nucleus, although synaptophysin immunohistochemistry disclosed large coarse pericellular terminals in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, instead of the fine granular terminals in control cases, around the soma of dentate neurons. Finally, Rab3a accumulated in the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells, thus suggesting major anomalies in Rab3a transport. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, abnormal expression of crucial synaptic proteins in the cerebellum of cases with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, abnormal PrP deposition is not proportional to the degree of reduction of synaptic protein expression in the different layers of the cerebellar cortex and in the dentate nucleus. Therefore, it remains to be elucidated how abnormal PrP impacts on the metabolism of proteins linked to exocytosis and neurotransmission, and how abnormal PrP deposition results in eventual synaptic loss.

Aged↗

Synapsin I and syntaxin 1B: key elements in the control of neurotransmitter release are regulated by neuronal activation and long-term potentiation in vivo.

The messenger RNAs encoding proteins of the exocytotic machinery were measured at different times following the induction of long-term potentiation or increasing neuronal activity in the dentate gyrus of the rat in vivo. In situ hybridization revealed that from the many messenger RNAs that encode proteins involved in regulated exocytosis, only those encoding synapsin I and syntaxin 1B were specifically increased. The levels of messenger RNA encoding both synapsin I and syntaxin 1B were increased on the ipsilateral side of the dorsal dentate gyrus 2 and 5 h following the induction of long-term potentiation. Syntaxin 1B was also increased in the ventral dentate gyrus at the same time-points. On the contralateral side of the dentate gyrus there was an increase in both synapsin I and syntaxin 1B at 5 h only. All of these long-term potentiation-induced changes were prevented when the tetanus was delivered in the presence of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. (D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that protein levels for both synapsin I and syntaxin 1B were elevated in the mossy fibre terminal zone of CA3 5 h after the induction of long-term potentiation. In addition to these plasticity-induced changes, a transient increase in the messenger RNA encoding syntaxin 1B was observed at 2 h in conditions of high intensity stimulation of the perforant path to increase the level of cellular activation, but this change was not maintained even when high intensity stimulation was sustained for 5 h. No changes in either of the messenger RNAs were observed under low frequency stimulation and pseudotetanus at either time-points. These results show that an overall increase in neuronal excitation within a neuronal network can be differentiated from a change in synaptic strength at a specific subset of the synapses, where only synaptic plasticity leads to long-term changes in the expression of selective members of the exocytotic machinery. Altered concentrations of key vesicle proteins may thus provide the means for modulation of neurotransmitter release over long time-periods. The persistent long-term potentiation-induced postsynaptic increase in messenger RNAs encoding these presynaptic proteins has important implications for the propagation of signals downstream from the site of long-term potentiation induction in hippocampal neural networks, and highlights a candidate molecular mechanism for mediating the propagation of synaptic plasticity in such networks.

Animals↗

Mammalian homologues of yeast vacuolar protein sorting (vps) genes implicated in Golgi-to-lysosome trafficking.

Sec1p, Vps33p, Vps45p and Sly1p constitute a family of proteins implicated in vesicle trafficking at distinct stages of the yeast secretory pathway. Several mammalian homologues of Sec1p have been described, including n-sec1 which has been implicated in the regulation of synaptic vesicle docking at the nerve terminal. We have characterized cDNA clones encoding three additional mammalian homologues belonging to this family: r-vps33a and r-vps33b from rat, which are 30 and 26% identical to yeast Vps33p, respectively, and h-vps45 from human which is 38% identical to yeast Vps45p at the amino acid (aa) level. Phylogenetic analysis of 16 Sec1p-related proteins from several species is consistent with the hypothesis that the evolution of this gene family parallels the specialization of vesicle trafficking to distinct intracellular compartments. By Northern analysis, each of these genes is expressed in all tissues examined (brain, spleen, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, testis). While n-sec1 binds syntaxin 1a, 2, and 3, r-vps33a, r-vps33b and h-vps45 do not bind any of the known syntaxins. We propose that the three proteins bind as yet unidentified syntaxin homologues involved in vesicle trafficking between the Golgi apparatus, prelysosomal compartment(s), and the lysosome.

Adult↗

Role of syntaxin 1A on serotonin transporter expression in developing thalamocortical neurons.

Neurotransmitter transporters are regulated through a variety of signal transduction mechanisms which may operate in order to maintain appropriate levels of transmitter in the synaptic cleft. GABA and glycine transporters both interact with components of the neurotransmitter release, such as the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A, suggesting that protein-protein interactions are a common method for regulating members of the neurotransmitter transporter family, and thus, linking the release of transmitter to its subsequent re-uptake. In the present report, the interaction of syntaxin 1A with endogenous serotonin transporters (SERT) expressed in developing thalamocortical neurons is examined. Incubation of thalamocortical cultures with botulinum toxin C1, which specifically cleaves syntaxin 1A, decreased SERT function. Serotonin (5HT) saturation analysis showed that the effect of the toxin was to decrease maximum transport capacity with little change to the affinity of the transporter for 5HT. The 5HT uptake data were consistent with biotinylation experiments showing a decrease in the surface expression of SERT following toxin treatment. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that SERT and syntaxin 1A form a protein complex in these neurons. These data show that components of the transmitter release machinery interact with endogenously expressed amine transporters, and suggest a mechanism for the control of transmitter levels in disorders related to aminergic signaling.

Animals↗

Tomosyn: a syntaxin-1-binding protein that forms a novel complex in the neurotransmitter release process.

Syntaxin-1 is a component of the synaptic vesicle docking and/or membrane fusion soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) complex (7S and 20S complexes) in nerve terminals. Syntaxin-1 also forms a heterodimer with Munc18/n-Sec1/rbSec1 in a complex that is distinct from the 7S and 20S complexes. In this report, we identify a novel syntaxin-1-binding protein, tomosyn, that is capable of dissociating Munc18 from syntaxin-1 and forming a novel 10S complex with syntaxin-1, soluble N-etyhlmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment (SNAP) 25, and synaptotagmin. The 130 kDa isoform of tomosyn is specifically expressed in brain, where its distribution partly overlaps with that of syntaxin-1 in nerve terminals. High level expression of either syntaxin-1 or tomosyn results in a specific reduction in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis from PC12 cells. These results suggest that tomosyn is an important component in the neurotransmitter release process where it may stimulate SNARE complex formation.

Animals↗

Syntaxin 1A interacts with multiple exocytic proteins to regulate neurotransmitter release in vivo.

Biochemical studies suggest that syntaxin 1A participates in multiple protein-protein interactions in the synaptic terminal, but the in vivo significance of these interactions is poorly understood. We used a targeted mutagenesis approach to eliminate specific syntaxin binding interactions and demonstrate that Drosophila syntaxin 1A plays multiple regulatory roles in neurotransmission in vivo. Syntaxin mutations that eliminate ROP/Munc-18 binding display increased neurotransmitter release, suggesting that ROP inhibits neurosecretion through its interaction with syntaxin. Syntaxin mutations that block Ca2+ channel binding also cause an increase in neurotransmitter release, suggesting that syntaxin normally functions in inhibiting Ca2+ channel opening. Additionally, we identify and characterize a syntaxin Ca2+ effector domain, which may spatially organize the Ca2+ channel, cysteine string protein, and synaptotagmin for effective excitation-secretion coupling in the presynaptic terminal.

Animals↗

Syntaphilin: a syntaxin-1 clamp that controls SNARE assembly.

Syntaxin-1 is a key component of the synaptic vesicle docking/fusion machinery that forms the SNARE complex with VAMP/synaptobrevin and SNAP-25. Identifying proteins that modulate SNARE complex formation is critical for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release and its modulation. We have cloned and characterized a protein called syntaphilin that is selectively expressed in brain. Syntaphilin competes with SNAP-25 for binding to syntaxin-1 and inhibits SNARE complex formation by absorbing free syntaxin-1. Transient overexpression of syntaphilin in cultured hippocampal neurons significantly reduces neurotransmitter release. Furthermore, introduction of syntaphilin into presynaptic superior cervical ganglion neurons in culture inhibits synaptic transmission. These findings suggest that syntaphilin may function as a molecular clamp that controls free syntaxin-1 availability for the assembly of the SNARE complex, and thereby regulates synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Munc18-1 promotes large dense-core vesicle docking.

Secretory vesicles dock at the plasma membrane before Ca(2+) triggers their exocytosis. Exocytosis requires the assembly of SNARE complexes formed by the vesicle protein Synaptobrevin and the membrane proteins Syntaxin-1 and SNAP-25. We analyzed the role of Munc18-1, a cytosolic binding partner of Syntaxin-1, in large dense-core vesicle (LDCV) secretion. Calcium-dependent LDCV exocytosis was reduced 10-fold in mouse chromaffin cells lacking Munc18-1, but the kinetic properties of the remaining release, including single fusion events, were not different from controls. Concomitantly, mutant cells displayed a 10-fold reduction in morphologically docked LDCVs. Moreover, acute overexpression of Munc18-1 in bovine chromaffin cells increased the amount of releasable vesicles and accelerated vesicle supply. We conclude that Munc18-1 functions upstream of SNARE complex formation and promotes LDCV docking.

Animals↗

Regulating the conducting states of a mammalian serotonin transporter.

Serotonin transporters (SERTs), sites of psychostimulant action, display multiple conducting states in expression systems. These include a substrate-independent transient conductance, two separate substrate-independent leak conductances associated with Na(+) and H(+), and a substrate-dependent conductance of variable stoichiometry, which exceeds that predicted from electroneutral substrate transport. The present data show that the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A binds the N-terminal tail of SERT, and this interaction regulates two SERT-conducting states. First, substrate-induced currents are absent because Na(+) flux becomes strictly coupled to 5HT transport. Second, Na(+)-mediated leak currents are eliminated. These two SERT-conducting states are present endogenously in thalamocortical neurons, act to depolarize the membrane potential, and are modulated by molecules that disrupt SERT and syntaxin 1A interactions. These data show that protein interactions govern SERT activity and suggest that both cell excitability and psychostimulant-mediated effects will be dependent upon the state of association among SERT and its interacting partners.

Animals↗

Influences of keratinocyte-fibroblast interaction on the expression of epimorphin by fibroblasts in vitro.

Epimorphin was demonstrated to be a mesenchymal signal factor modulating epithelial morphogenesis of skin, lung and liver in vitro. Most of the previous studies were performed biochemically and functionally. In the present study, expression of epimorphin was immunohistochemically compared between cultured fibroblasts and cocultured fibroblasts with keratinocytes obtained from normal skin. Cultured fibroblasts revealed a low level of epimorphin expression. In contrast, the expression by fibroblasts was greatly enhanced in skin explant culture where both fibroblasts and keratinocytes were present. In three-dimensional coculture of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, the expression of epimorphin was enhanced. The staining pattern of epimorphin in three-dimensional coculture was similar to that in human skin. These results suggest that dermal fibroblasts are manufacturers of epimorphin, and keratinocyte-fibroblast interaction may play important roles in the expression of epimorphin in vitro.

Adult↗

The X-ray crystal structure of neuronal Sec1 from squid sheds new light on the role of this protein in exocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Sec1-like molecules have been implicated in a variety of eukaryotic vesicle transport processes including neurotransmitter release by exocytosis. They regulate vesicle transport by binding to a t-SNARE from the syntaxin family. This process is thought to prevent SNARE complex formation, a protein complex required for membrane fusion. Whereas Sec1 molecules are essential for neurotransmitter release and other secretory events, their interaction with syntaxin molecules seems to represent a negative regulatory step in secretion. RESULTS: Here we report the X-ray crystal structure of a neuronal Sec1 homologue from squid, s-Sec1, at 2.4 A resolution. Neuronal s-Sec1 is a modular protein that folds into a V-shaped three-domain assembly. Peptide and mutagenesis studies are discussed with respect to the mechanism of Sec1 regulation. Comparison of the structure of squid s-Sec1 with the previously determined structure of rat neuronal Sec1 (n-Sec1) bound to syntaxin-1a indicates conformational rearrangements in domain III induced by syntaxin binding. CONCLUSIONS: The crystal structure of s-Sec1 provides the molecular scaffold for a number of molecular interactions that have been reported to affect Sec1 function. The structural differences observed between s-Sec1 and the structure of a rat n-Sec1-syntaxin-1a complex suggest that local conformational changes are sufficient to release syntaxin-1a from neuronal Sec1, an active process that is thought to involve additional effector molecule(s).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The length of the flexible SNAREpin juxtamembrane region is a critical determinant of SNARE-dependent fusion.

The topology of a SNARE complex bridging two docked vesicles could act as a mechanical couple to do work on the lipid bilayer resulting in fusion. To test this, we prepared a series of modified SNARE proteins and determined their effects on SNARE-dependent membrane fusion. When two helix-breaking proline residues are introduced into the juxtamembrane region of VAMP, there is little or no effect on fusion, and the same change in syntaxin 1A only reduced the extent and rate of fusion by half. The insertion of a flexible linker between the transmembrane domain and the conserved coiled-coil domain only moderately affected fusion; however, fusion efficiency systematically decreased with increasing length of the linker. Together, these results rule out a requirement for helical continuity and suggest that distance is a critical factor for membrane fusion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Syntaxin 2 and endobrevin are required for the terminal step of cytokinesis in mammalian cells.

The terminal step of cytokinesis in animal cells is the abscission of the midbody, a cytoplasmic bridge that connects the two prospective daughter cells. Here we show that two members of the SNARE membrane fusion machinery, syntaxin 2 and endobrevin/VAMP-8, specifically localize to the midbody during cytokinesis in mammalian cells. Inhibition of their function by overexpression of nonmembrane-anchored mutants causes failure of cytokinesis leading to the formation of binucleated cells. Time-lapse microscopy shows that only midbody abscission but not further upstream events, such as furrowing, are affected. These results indicate that successful completion of cytokinesis requires a SNARE-mediated membrane fusion event and that this requirement is distinct from exocytic events that may be involved in prior ingression of the plasma membrane.

Animals↗

Changes in syntaxin-1B mRNA in the nucleus accumbens of amphetamine-sensitized rats.

Repeated administration of amphetamine in animals induces persistent changes in dopamine (DA) functions and behaviour. These changes may be mediated by altered plasticity of the mesocorticolimbic DA system. We have previously reported changes in the content of axonal plasma membrane protein syntaxin-1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of amphetamine-sensitized rats. In the present investigation, we investigated whether syntaxin-1 changes are derived from transcriptional events, i.e. mRNA changes, in the mesocorticolimbic DA regions of the brain. Behavioural sensitization was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by repeated intermittent administration of d-amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg i.p. for 5 alternate days). The animals were sacrificed 24 h, 7 d or 14 d after the last injection and in-situ hybridization using oligonucleotide probes was employed to assess the expression of syntaxin-1A and -1B mRNAs. Results show that the expression of syntaxin-1B mRNA was significantly increased in the NAc shell (NAcS) region in the amphetamine-sensitized rats 14 d after the drug treatment compared to saline pretreated or untreated control animals No significant change in syntaxin-1B mRNA was observed in animals sacrificed 24 h or 7 d after the sensitizing regimen of amphetamine in any brain region analysed, namely NAcS, NAc core (NAcC), caudate putamen (CPu), ventral tegmental area (VTA) or medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Levels of syntaxin1A mRNA were not significantly different from controls in any brain region at any time-point. These results suggest that syntaxin-1 protein changes in amphetamine-sensitized rats may be due to increased syntaxin-1B gene expression within local neurons of the NAcS that may lead to altered exocytosis from these neurons during the expression of sensitized response.

Amphetamine↗