scholarly journals KIF1A/UNC-104 transports ATG-9 to regulate neurodevelopment and autophagy at synapses

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea K. H. Stavoe ◽  
Sarah E. Hill ◽  
Daniel A. Colón-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Axon Outgrowth ◽  
Genetic Screens ◽  
Autophagosome Formation ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Physiological Importance ◽  
Polarized Cells ◽  
Presynaptic Assembly

SUMMARYAutophagy is a cellular degradation process essential for neuronal development and survival. Neurons are highly polarized cells in which autophagosome biogenesis is spatially compartmentalized. The mechanisms and physiological importance of this spatial compartmentalization of autophagy in the neuronal development of living animals are not well understood. Here we determine that, in C. elegans neurons, autophagosomes form near synapses and are required for neurodevelopment. We first determined, through unbiased genetic screens and systematic genetic analyses, that autophagy is required cell-autonomously for presynaptic assembly and for axon outgrowth dynamics in specific neurons. We observe autophagosomes in the axon near synapses, and this localization depends on the synaptic vesicle kinesin, KIF1A/UNC-104. KIF1A/UNC-104 coordinates localized autophagosome formation by regulating the transport of the integral membrane autophagy protein, ATG-9. Our findings indicate that autophagy is spatially regulated in neurons through the transport of ATG-9 by KIF1A/UNC-104 to regulate neurodevelopment.

Aggrephagy: lessons from C. elegans

2013 ◽  
Vol 452 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Lu ◽  
Fan Wu ◽  
Hong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Model ◽  
Protein Aggregates ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Genetic Screens ◽  
Concerted Action ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Atg Proteins ◽  
Higher Eukaryotes ◽  
Yeast Genetic ◽  
Genetic Hierarchy

Autophagy is a lysosome-mediated degradation process that involves the formation of an enclosed double-membrane autophagosome. Yeast genetic screens have laid the groundwork for a molecular understanding of autophagy. The process, however, exhibits fundamental differences between yeast and higher eukaryotes. Very little is known about essential autophagy components specific to higher eukaryotes. Recent studies have shown that a variety of protein aggregates are selectively removed by autophagy (a process termed aggrephagy) during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis, establishing C. elegans as a multicellular genetic model to delineate the autophagic machinery. The genetic screens were carried out in C. elegans to identify essential autophagy genes. In addition to conserved and divergent homologues of yeast Atg proteins, several autophagy genes conserved in higher eukaryotes, but absent from yeast, were isolated. The genetic hierarchy of autophagy genes in the degradation of protein aggregates in C. elegans provides a framework for understanding the concerted action of autophagy genes in the aggrephagy pathway.

scholarly journals Retrograde Transport and ATG-4.2-Mediated Maturation Cooperate to Remove Autophagosomes from the Synapse

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Hill ◽  
Daniel A. Colón-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Cell Body ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
List Type ◽  
Single Neurons ◽  
Genetic Screens ◽  
Autophagosome Formation ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Forward Genetic Screens ◽  
Autophagosome Maturation

SUMMARYAutophagy is spatially compartmentalized in neurons, with autophagosome biogenesis occurring in the axon and degradation in the cell body. The mechanisms that coordinate autophagosome formation, trafficking and degradation across the polarized structure of the neuron are not well understood. Here we use genetic screens and in vivo imaging in single neurons of C. elegans to demonstrate that specific steps of autophagy are differentially required in distinct subcellular compartments of the neuron. We demonstrate that completion of autophagosome biogenesis and closure at the synapse are necessary for dynein-mediated retrograde transport. We uncover a role for UNC-16/JIP3/Sunday Driver in facilitating autophagosome retrograde transport. Through forward genetic screens we then determine that autophagosome maturation and degradation in the cell body depend on removal of LGG-1/Atg8/GABARAP from autophagosomes by the protease ATG-4.2. Our studies reveal that regulation of distinct ATG4 proteases contributes to the coordination of autophagy across subcellular regions of the neuron.HIGHLIGHTS and eTOC BlurbAutophagosome closure, but not maturation, occurs locally at presynaptic sitesRetrograde transport of autophagosomes requires the motor adaptor UNC-16/JIP3The autophagy protease ATG-4.2, but not the related ATG-4.1, is required for autophagosome maturation and degradationDefects in retrograde transport and maturation genetically interact and enhance accumulation of autophagosomes in presynaptic regions

scholarly journals Clarinet (CLA-1), a novel active zone protein required for synaptic vesicle clustering and release

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Xuan ◽  
Laura Manning ◽  
Jessica Nelson ◽  
Janet E. Richmond ◽  
Daniel Colón-Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Active Zone ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Synaptic Depression ◽  
Genetic Screens ◽  
C2 Domains ◽  
Specific Loss ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Forward Genetic Screens

AbstractActive zone proteins cluster synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals and coordinate their release. In forward genetic screens we isolated a novel C. elegans active zone gene, clarinet (cla-1). cla-1 mutants exhibit defects in synaptic vesicle clustering, reduced spontaneous neurotransmitter release, increased synaptic depression and reduced synapse number. Ultrastructurally, cla-1 mutants have fewer synaptic vesicles adjacent to the dense projection and an increased number of docked vesicles. Cla-1 encodes 3 isoforms containing common C-terminal PDZ and C2 domains with homology to vertebrate active zone proteins Piccolo and RIM. The short isoform localizes exclusively to the active zone while a longer ~9000 amino acid isoform colocalizes with synaptic vesicles. Specific loss of CLA-1L results in synaptic vesicle clustering defects and increased synaptic depression, but not in reduced synapse number or mini frequency. Together our data indicate that specific isoforms of clarinet serve distinct functions, regulating synapse development, synaptic vesicle clustering and release.

scholarly journals Gut regulates brain synaptic assembly through neuroendocrine signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Shi ◽  
Lu Qin ◽  
Zhiyong Shao
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Genetic Screen ◽  
Synaptic Development ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Canonical Wnt ◽  
Presynaptic Assembly

AbstractThe gut-brain axis plays an essential role in regulating neural development in response to external environmental stimuli, such as microbes or nutrient availability. Defects in gut-brain communication usually lead to various neurological disorders. However, it remains unknown whether gut plays any intrinsic role in regulating neuronal development. Through a genetic screen in C. elegans, we uncovered that an intrinsic Wnt-endocrine pathway in gut regulates synaptic development and neuronal activity in brain. Specifically, the gut expressed neuropeptide NLP-40 upregulated by a canonical Wnt signaling, which then facilitates presynaptic assembly through regulating GPCR AEX-2 mediated neuronal spontaneous activity. Therefore, this study not only uncovers a novel synaptic development mechanism, but also reveals a novel gut-brain interaction.

scholarly journals Rgs4 is a regulator of mTOR activity required for motoneuron axon outgrowth and neuronal development in zebrafish

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Mikdache ◽  
Marie-José Boueid ◽  
Lorijn van der Spek ◽  
Emilie Lesport ◽  
Brigitte Delespierre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Axon Outgrowth ◽  
Rgs Proteins ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
G Protein Coupled

AbstractThe Regulator of G protein signaling 4 (Rgs4) is a member of the RGS proteins superfamily that modulates the activity of G-protein coupled receptors. It is mainly expressed in the nervous system and is linked to several neuronal signaling pathways; however, its role in neural development in vivo remains inconclusive. Here, we generated and characterized a rgs4 loss of function model (MZrgs4) in zebrafish. MZrgs4 embryos showed motility defects and presented reduced head and eye sizes, reflecting defective motoneurons axon outgrowth and a significant decrease in the number of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. Forcing the expression of Rgs4 specifically within motoneurons rescued their early defective outgrowth in MZrgs4 embryos, indicating an autonomous role for Rgs4 in motoneurons. We also analyzed the role of Akt, Erk and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascades and showed a requirement for these pathways in motoneurons axon outgrowth and neuronal development. Drawing on pharmacological and rescue experiments in MZrgs4, we provide evidence that Rgs4 facilitates signaling mediated by Akt, Erk and mTOR in order to drive axon outgrowth in motoneurons and regulate neuronal numbers.

scholarly journals Dendrites with specialized glial attachments develop by retrograde extension using SAX-7 and GRDN-1

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Cebul ◽  
Ian G. McLachlan ◽  
Maxwell G. Heiman
Keyword(s):  
Glial Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Cytoplasmic Protein ◽  
Genetic Screens ◽  
Sense Organs ◽  
Adhesion Protein ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Dendrite Development ◽  
Forward Genetic Screens

ABSTRACTDendrites develop elaborate morphologies in concert with surrounding glia, but the molecules that coordinate dendrite and glial morphogenesis are mostly unknown.C. elegansoffers a powerful model for identifying such factors. Previous work in this system examined dendrites and glia that develop within epithelia, similar to mammalian sense organs. Here, we focus on the neurons BAG and URX, which are not part of an epithelium but instead form membranous attachments to a single glial cell at the nose, reminiscent of dendrite-glia contacts in the mammalian brain. We show that these dendrites develop by retrograde extension, in which the nascent dendrite endings anchor to the presumptive nose and then extend by stretch during embryo elongation. Using forward genetic screens, we find that dendrite development requires the adhesion protein SAX-7/L1CAM and the cytoplasmic protein GRDN-1/CCDC88C to anchor dendrite endings at the nose. SAX-7 acts in neurons and glia, while GRDN-1 acts in glia to non-autonomously promote dendrite extension. Thus, this work shows how glial factors can help to shape dendrites, and identifies a novel molecular mechanism for dendrite growth by retrograde extension.

scholarly journals Regulation of neuronal axon specification by glia-neuron gap junctions in C. elegans

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingfeng Meng ◽  
Albert Zhang ◽  
Yishi Jin ◽  
Dong Yan
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Critical Step ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Intracellular Pathways ◽  
Axon Specification

Axon specification is a critical step in neuronal development, and the function of glial cells in this process is not fully understood. Here, we show that C. elegans GLR glial cells regulate axon specification of their nearby GABAergic RME neurons through GLR-RME gap junctions. Disruption of GLR-RME gap junctions causes misaccumulation of axonal markers in non-axonal neurites of RME neurons and converts microtubules in those neurites to form an axon-like assembly. We further uncover that GLR-RME gap junctions regulate RME axon specification through activation of the CDK-5 pathway in a calcium-dependent manner, involving a calpain clp-4. Therefore, our study reveals the function of glia-neuron gap junctions in neuronal axon specification and shows that calcium originated from glial cells can regulate neuronal intracellular pathways through gap junctions.

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