0000000000022736
AUTHOR
Arthur Bikbaev
More than a pore: How voltage-gated calcium channels act on different levels of neuronal communication regulation.
ABSTRACT Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) represent key regulators of the calcium influx through the plasma membrane of excitable cells, like neurons. Activated by the depolarization of the membrane, the opening of VGCCs induces very transient and local changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, known as calcium nanodomains, that in turn trigger calcium-dependent signaling cascades and the release of chemical neurotransmitters. Based on their central importance as concierges of excitation-secretion coupling and therefore neuronal communication, VGCCs have been studied in multiple aspects of neuronal function and malfunction. However, studies on molecular interaction partners …
Transient Confinement of CaV2.1 Ca2+-Channel Splice Variants Shapes Synaptic Short-Term Plasticity
Summary The precision and reliability of synaptic information transfer depend on the molecular organization of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) within the presynaptic membrane. Alternative splicing of exon 47 affects the C-terminal structure of VGCCs and their affinity to intracellular partners and synaptic vesicles (SVs). We show that hippocampal synapses expressing VGCCs either with exon 47 (CaV2.1+47) or without (CaV2.1Δ47) differ in release probability and short-term plasticity. Tracking single channels revealed transient visits (∼100 ms) of presynaptic VGCCs in nanodomains (∼80 nm) that were controlled by neuronal network activity. Surprisingly, despite harboring prominent bindin…
Preventing Jacob-induced transcriptional inactivation of CREB protects synapses from β-amyloid in Alzheimer’s Disease
Abstract Disruption of transcriptional activity of cAMP–responsive element-binding protein (CREB), a master regulator of cell survival and plasticity-related gene expression, is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). CREB shut-off results in early synaptic dysfunction, contributes to AD pathology and eventually neuronal cell death and is elicited by amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced activation of extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptors (NMDAR). In previous work we found that the protein messenger Jacob encodes and transduces the synaptic or extrasynaptic origin of NMDAR signals to the nucleus. In response to cell survival and plasticity-related synaptic NMDAR stimulation macromolecular transport…
Dynamic compartmentalization of calcium channel signalling in neurons.
Calcium fluxes through the neuronal membrane are strictly limited in time due to biophysical properties of voltage-gated and ligand-activated ion channels and receptors. Being embedded into the crowded dynamic environment of biological membranes, Ca2+-permeable receptors and channels undergo perpetual spatial rearrangement, which enables their temporary association and formation of transient signalling complexes. Thus, efficient calcium-mediated signal transduction requires mechanisms to support very precise spatiotemporal alignment of the calcium source and Ca2+-binding lipids and proteins in a highly dynamic environment. The mobility of calcium channels and calcium-sensing proteins themse…
Separation of presynaptic Cav2 and Cav1 channel function in synaptic vesicle exo- and endocytosis by the membrane anchored Ca2+ pump PMCA
Significance Synaptic vesicle (SV) release from presynaptic terminals requires nanometer precise control of action potential (AP)–triggered calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). SV recycling also depends on calcium signals, though in different spatiotemporal domains. Mechanisms for separate control of SV release and recycling by AP-triggered calcium influx remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate largely independent regulation of release and recycling by two different populations of VGCCs (Cav2, Cav1), identify Cav1 as one of potentially multiple calcium entry routes for endocytosis regulation, and show functional separation of simultaneous calcium signals in the nanome…
Auxiliary α2δ1 and α2δ3 Subunits of Calcium Channels Drive Excitatory and Inhibitory Neuronal Network Development
VGCCs are multisubunit complexes that play a crucial role in neuronal signaling. Auxiliary α2δ subunits of VGCCs modulate trafficking and biophysical properties of the pore-forming α1 subunit and trigger excitatory synaptogenesis. Alterations in the expression level of α2δ subunits were implicated in several syndromes and diseases, including chronic neuropathic pain, autism, and epilepsy. However, the contribution of distinct α2δ subunits to excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and aberrant network connectivity characteristic for these pathologic conditions remains unclear. Here, we show that α2δ1 overexpression enhances spontaneous neuronal network activity in developing and mature cultures of …