scholarly journals Otoferlin is a calcium sensor that directly regulates SNARE-mediated membrane fusion

2010 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin P. Johnson ◽  
Edwin R. Chapman

Otoferlin is a large multi–C2 domain protein proposed to act as a calcium sensor that regulates synaptic vesicle exocytosis in cochlear hair cells. Although mutations in otoferlin have been associated with deafness, its contribution to neurotransmitter release is unresolved. Using recombinant proteins, we demonstrate that five of the six C2 domains of otoferlin sense calcium with apparent dissociation constants that ranged from 13–25 µM; in the presence of membranes, these apparent affinities increase by up to sevenfold. Using a reconstituted membrane fusion assay, we found that five of the six C2 domains of otoferlin stimulate membrane fusion in a calcium-dependent manner. We also demonstrate that a calcium binding–deficient form of the C2C domain is incapable of stimulating membrane fusion, further underscoring the importance of calcium for the protein’s function. These results demonstrate for the first time that otoferlin is a calcium sensor that can directly regulate soluble N-ethyl-maleimide sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor–mediated membrane fusion reactions.

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Martens

Neurotransmitter release is mediated by the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane. Fusion is triggered by a rise in the intracellular calcium concentration and is dependent on the neuronal SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor) complex. A plethora of molecules such as members of the MUNC13, MUNC18, complexin and synaptotagmin families act along with the SNARE complex to enable calcium-regulated synaptic vesicle exocytosis. The synaptotagmins are localized to synaptic vesicles by an N-terminal transmembrane domain and contain two cytoplasmic C2 domains. Members of the synaptotagmin family are thought to translate the rise in intracellular calcium concentration into synaptic vesicle fusion. The C2 domains of synaptotagmin-1 bind membranes in a calcium-dependent manner and in response induce a high degree of membrane curvature, which is required for its ability to trigger membrane fusion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, members of the soluble DOC2 (double-C2 domain) protein family have similar properties. Taken together, these results suggest that C2 domain proteins such as the synaptotagmins and DOC2s promote membrane fusion by the induction of membrane curvature in the vicinity of the SNARE complex. Given the widespread expression of C2 domain proteins in secretory cells, it is proposed that promotion of SNARE-dependent membrane fusion by the induction of membrane curvature is a widespread phenomenon.


1995 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron B. Gundersen ◽  
Alessandro Mastrogiacomo ◽  
Joy A. Umbach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyong Wu ◽  
Nadiv Dharan ◽  
Sathish Thiyagarajan ◽  
Ben O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Erdem Karatekin

ABSTRACTAll membrane fusion reactions proceed through an initial fusion pore, including calcium-triggered vesicular release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Expansion of this small pore to release cargo molecules is energetically costly and regulated by cells, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that the neuronal/exocytic calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) promotes expansion of fusion pores induced by SNARE proteins, beyond its established role in coupling calcium influx to fusion pore opening. Our results suggest that fusion pore dilation by Syt1 requires interactions with SNAREs, PI(4,5)P2, and calcium. Pore opening was abolished by a mutation of the tandem C2 domain (C2AB) hydrophobic loops of Syt1, suggesting that their calcium-induced insertion into the membrane is required for pore opening. We propose that loop insertion is also required for pore expansion, but through a distinct mechanism. Mathematical modelling suggests that membrane insertion re-orients the C2 domains bound to the SNARE complex, rotating the SNARE complex so as to exert force on the membranes in a mechanical lever action that increases the intermembrane distance. The increased membrane separation provokes pore dilation to offset a bending energy penalty. We conclude that Syt1 assumes a critical role in calcium-dependent fusion pore dilation during neurotransmitter and hormone release.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMembrane fusion is a fundamental biological process, required for development, infection by enveloped viruses, fertilization, intracellular trafficking, and calcium-triggered release of neurotransmitters and hormones when cargo-laden vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. All membrane fusion reactions proceed through an initial, nanometer-sized fusion pore which can flicker open-closed multiple times before expanding or resealing. Pore expansion is required for efficient cargo release, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a combination of single-pore measurements and quantitative modeling, we suggest that a complex between the neuronal calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 and the SNARE proteins together act as a calcium-sensitive mechanical lever to force the membranes apart and enlarge the pore.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant F Kusick ◽  
Morven Chin ◽  
Sumana Raychaudhuri ◽  
Kristina Lippmann ◽  
Kadidia P Adula ◽  
...  

AbstractSynaptic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane to release neurotransmitter following an action potential, after which new vesicles must ‘dock’ to refill vacated release sites. To capture synaptic vesicle exocytosis at cultured mouse hippocampal synapses, we induced single action potentials by electrical field stimulation then subjected neurons to high-pressure freezing to examine their morphology by electron microscopy. During synchronous release, multiple vesicles can fuse at a single active zone; this multivesicular release is augmented by increasing extracellular calcium. Fusions during synchronous release are distributed throughout the active zone, whereas fusions during asynchronous release are biased toward the center of the active zone. Immediately after stimulation, the total number of docked vesicles across all synapses decreases by ∼40%. Between 8 and 14 ms, new vesicles are recruited to the plasma membrane and fully replenish the docked pool in a calcium-dependent manner, but docking of these vesicles is transient and they either undock or fuse within 100 ms. These results demonstrate that recruitment of synaptic vesicles to release sites is rapid and reversible.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengdie Ye ◽  
Yixian Liao ◽  
Li Wu ◽  
Wenbao Qi ◽  
Namrta Choudhry ◽  
...  

Influenza A viruses (IAV) have been a major public health threat worldwide, and options for antiviral therapy become increasingly limited with the emergence of drug-resisting virus strains. New and effective anti-IAV drugs, especially for highly pathogenic influenza, with different modes of action, are urgently needed. The influenza virus glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) plays critical roles in the early stage of virus infection, including receptor binding and membrane fusion, making it a potential target for the development of anti-influenza drugs. In this study, we show that OA-10, a newly synthesized triterpene out of 11 oleanane-type derivatives, exhibited significant antiviral activity against four different subtypes of IAV (H1N1, H5N1, H9N2 and H3N2) replications in A549 cell cultures with EC50 ranging from 6.7 to 19.6 μM and a negligible cytotoxicity (CC50 > 640 μM). It inhibited acid-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 26 µM, and had a weak inhibition on the adsorption of H5 HA to chicken erythrocytes at higher concentrations (≥40 µM). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis showed that OA-10 interacted with HA in a dose-dependent manner with the equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of the interaction of 2.98 × 10−12 M. Computer-aided molecular docking analysis suggested that OA-10 might bind to the cavity in HA stem region which is known to undergo significant rearrangement during membrane fusion. Our results demonstrate that OA-10 inhibits H5N1 IAV replication mainly by blocking the conformational changes of HA2 subunit required for virus fusion with endosomal membrane. These findings suggest that OA-10 could serve as a lead for further development of novel virus entry inhibitors to prevent and treat IAV infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aayushi Manchanda ◽  
Paroma Chatterjee ◽  
Josephine A. Bonventre ◽  
Derik E. Haggard ◽  
Katie S. Kindt ◽  
...  

Abstract The protein otoferlin plays an essential role at the sensory hair cell synapse. Mutations in otoferlin result in deafness and depending on the species, mild to strong vestibular deficits. While studies in mouse models suggest a role for otoferlin in synaptic vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis, it is unclear whether these functions are conserved across species. To address this question, we characterized the impact of otoferlin depletion in zebrafish larvae and found defects in synaptic vesicle recycling, abnormal synaptic ribbons, and higher resting calcium concentrations in hair cells. We also observed abnormal expression of the calcium binding hair cell genes s100s and parvalbumin, as well as the nogo related proteins rtn4rl2a and rtn4rl2b. Exogenous otoferlin partially restored expression of genes affected by endogenous otoferlin depletion. Our results suggest that in addition to vesicle recycling, depletion of otoferlin disrupts resting calcium levels, alters synaptic ribbon architecture, and perturbs transcription of hair cells specific genes during zebrafish development.


2000 ◽  
Vol 148 (6) ◽  
pp. 1141-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñigo Martinez ◽  
Sabyasachi Chakrabarti ◽  
Turid Hellevik ◽  
Jennifer Morehead ◽  
Kimberly Fowler ◽  
...  

Synaptotagmins (Syts) are transmembrane proteins with two Ca2+-binding C2 domains in their cytosolic region. Syt I, the most widely studied isoform, has been proposed to function as a Ca2+ sensor in synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Several of the twelve known Syts are expressed primarily in brain, while a few are ubiquitous (Sudhof, T.C., and J. Rizo. 1996. Neuron. 17: 379–388; Butz, S., R. Fernandez-Chacon, F. Schmitz, R. Jahn, and T.C. Sudhof. 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274:18290–18296). The ubiquitously expressed Syt VII binds syntaxin at free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]) below 10 μM, whereas other isoforms require 200–500 μM [Ca2+] or show no Ca2+-dependent syntaxin binding (Li, C., B. Ullrich, Z. Zhang, R.G.W. Anderson, N. Brose, and T.C. Sudhof. 1995. Nature. 375:594–599). We investigated the involvement of Syt VII in the exocytosis of lysosomes, which is triggered in several cell types at 1–5 μM [Ca2+] (Rodríguez, A., P. Webster, J. Ortego, and N.W. Andrews. 1997. J. Cell Biol. 137:93–104). Here, we show that Syt VII is localized on dense lysosomes in normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts, and that GFP-tagged Syt VII is targeted to lysosomes after transfection. Recombinant fragments containing the C2A domain of Syt VII inhibit Ca2+-triggered secretion of β-hexosaminidase and surface translocation of Lgp120, whereas the C2A domain of the neuronal- specific isoform, Syt I, has no effect. Antibodies against the Syt VII C2A domain are also inhibitory in both assays, indicating that Syt VII plays a key role in the regulation of Ca2+-dependent lysosome exocytosis.


Author(s):  
Gemma A.J. Kuijpers ◽  
Harvey B. Pollard

Exocytotic fusion of granules in the adrenal medulla chromaffin cell is triggered by a rise in the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ upon cell activation. The protein synexin, annexin VII, was originally found in the adrenal medulla and has been shown to cause aggregation and to support fusion of chromaffin granules in a Ca2+-dependent manner. We have previously suggested that synexin may there fore play a role in the exocytotic fusion process. In order to obtain more structural information on synexin, we performed immuno-electron microscopy on frozen ultrathin sections of both isolated chromaffin granules and chromaffin cells.Chromaffin granules were isolated from bovine adrenal medulla, and synexin was isolated from bovine lung. Granules were incubated in the presence or absence of synexin (24 μg per mg granule protein) and Ca2+ (1 mM), which induces maximal granule aggregation, in 0.3M sucrose-40m MMES buffer(pH 6.0). Granules were pelleted, washed twice in buffer without synexin and fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde- 2% para formaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (GA/PFA) for 30 min. Chromaffin cells were isolated and cultured for 3-5 days, and washed and incubated in Krebs solution with or without 20 uM nicotine. Cells were fixed 90 sec after on set of stimulation with GA/PFA for 30 min. Fixed granule or cell pellets were washed, infiltrated with 2.3 M sucrose in PBS, mounted and frozen in liquid N2.


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