Chemical synapses are specialized cellular junction structures that are essential for communication between neurons. During development, synapses form between specific neurons at defined subcellular compartments. Synaptic target selection, axonal transport and presynaptic assembly are integral steps of synapse formation that are poorly understood. Here, I propose to expand our research to understand two essential aspects of synapse formation: polarized axonal trafficking and how aggregation of active zone proteins is regulated. Synapses are usually formed on distal axon and dendrites, creating a challenging problem for effective exchange of intracellular material between cell bodies and synapses. Microtubules and MT associated motors mediate intracellular trafficking. It is generally believed that the direction of transport depends on two factors: the polarity of MTs and the type of motor involved. Based on our published and unpublished data, we have identified two cyclin-dependent kinase pathways that are essential for the trafficking of presynaptic components. In the absence of both pathways, the vast majority of synaptic vesicle proteins and active zone markers fail to localize to axon and instead are found in dendrites due to misregulation of kinesin motors. Another poorly understood question in synapse formation is how the pool size of synaptic vesicles is determined. Many synapses display stereotyped size of synaptic vesicle clusters, suggesting that molecular mechanisms regulate the assembly of synaptic vesicle precursors locally at the presynaptic terminals. When the appropriate number of vesicles is recruited, there might be a negative feedback system to shut down the assembly pathway. We reasoned that if this feedback mechanism is defective, one should expect to see mutant synapses with abnormal vesicle pool. Indeed in a forward genetic screen, we isolated a mutant in which the proximal synapses are abnormally large while the distal synapses contain little material. We have also identified an Arf like GTPase to be responsible for the regulation the location and size of presynaptic specializations. To gain mechanistic insights on the functions of these genes, I specifically plan to understand: 1) how the cyclin-dependent kinases pathways control axonal transport and synapse localization through the regulation of molecular motors, and 2) how an ARF like GTPase, ARL8 regulate the synaptic vesicle pool size and presynaptic assembly. Given that many neural disorders are associated with alterations in synaptic connectivity and that cyclin dependent kinases have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, it is hopeful that this project will help to understand brain development under both physiological and pathological conditions.

Public Health Relevance

Synapses are critical for the communication between neurons. During synapse formation, proteins and vesicle are transported to presynaptic terminals in distal axons. The proposed study characterizes critical regulatory mechanisms for trafficking synaptic components to axons as well as locally synaptic assembly. This project will potentially shed light on the pathogenesis mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases such as the Alzheimer's disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS048392-08
Application #
8217129
Study Section
Synapses, Cytoskeleton and Trafficking Study Section (SYN)
Program Officer
Talley, Edmund M
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2015-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$337,948
Indirect Cost
$123,573
Name
Stanford University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Lipton, David M; Maeder, Celine I; Shen, Kang (2018) Rapid Assembly of Presynaptic Materials behind the Growth Cone in Dopaminergic Neurons Is Mediated by Precise Regulation of Axonal Transport. Cell Rep 24:2709-2722
Kurshan, Peri T; Merrill, Sean A; Dong, Yongming et al. (2018) ?-Neurexin and Frizzled Mediate Parallel Synapse Assembly Pathways Antagonized by Receptor Endocytosis. Neuron 100:150-166.e4
Niwa, Shinsuke; Tao, Li; Lu, Sharon Y et al. (2017) BORC Regulates the Axonal Transport of Synaptic Vesicle Precursors by Activating ARL-8. Curr Biol 27:2569-2578.e4
Xuan, Zhao; Manning, Laura; Nelson, Jessica et al. (2017) Clarinet (CLA-1), a novel active zone protein required for synaptic vesicle clustering and release. Elife 6:
Li, Pengpeng; Merrill, Sean A; Jorgensen, Erik M et al. (2016) Two Clathrin Adaptor Protein Complexes Instruct Axon-Dendrite Polarity. Neuron 90:564-80
Niwa, Shinsuke; Lipton, David M; Morikawa, Manatsu et al. (2016) Autoinhibition of a Neuronal Kinesin UNC-104/KIF1A Regulates the Size and Density of Synapses. Cell Rep 16:2129-2141
Yogev, Shaul; Cooper, Roshni; Fetter, Richard et al. (2016) Microtubule Organization Determines Axonal Transport Dynamics. Neuron 92:449-460
He, Jiang; Zhou, Ruobo; Wu, Zhuhao et al. (2016) Prevalent presence of periodic actin-spectrin-based membrane skeleton in a broad range of neuronal cell types and animal species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:6029-34
Maro, Géraldine S; Gao, Shangbang; Olechwier, Agnieszka M et al. (2015) MADD-4/Punctin and Neurexin Organize C. elegans GABAergic Postsynapses through Neuroligin. Neuron 86:1420-32
Özkan, Engin; Chia, Poh Hui; Wang, Ruiqi Rachel et al. (2014) Extracellular architecture of the SYG-1/SYG-2 adhesion complex instructs synaptogenesis. Cell 156:482-94

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