Neurotransmitter release is one of the most regulated membrane fusion events. Unlike constitutive vesicle trafficking, synaptic vesicles are recruited to the presynaptic membrane, but do not readily fuse. Instead, an average of ten vesicles are stably docked at a region of the synapse termed the active zone awaiting an action potential. Synaptic vesicle fusion is closely associated with the Ca2+ influx that follows arrival of an action potential. Exocytosis is triggered within approximately 0.2 msec of the Ca2+ arrival. Although many key factors have been found to be essential for Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release, such as SNAREs, synaptotagmin, complexin, Munc18, and Munc13, the molecular mechanism of synaptic vesicle membrane fusion and Ca2+- triggering remains unclear. In this renewal application we wish to continue our efforts to decipher the molecular mechanism by using a combination of single molecule and single particle fluorescence imaging microscopy experiments. Driven by our hypothesis that SNAREs and auxiliary proteins do not fully assemble and, thus, do not trigger fusion until a Ca2+ signal arrives, we have designed labeling strategies to monitor distinct conformational states of the protein and protein-complexes involved in the process. We have also developed fluorescent reporters that provide information about content and lipid exchange as the system proceeds from vesicle docking, to membrane contact, and, finally, to fusion. These labeling strategies and the single molecule and single vesicle experimental setups are the cornerstones for the proposed research. Our assays are a breakthrough, since for the first time, we observe fast fusion kinetics upon Ca2+ triggering. Our new assay now enables us to determine the role of the factors involved, their stoichiometry (e.g., how many SNARE complexes and synaptotagmin molecules are required for fast Ca2+ triggered fusion?), to propose and test mutants of these factors that affect their function in the assay, and then to use these mutants as tools for experiments with neuronal cultures to dissect their role in vivo. Furthermore, we have recently demonstrated the ability of super-resolution imaging of synaptic proteins by using labeled antibodies to an unprecedented degree of localization accuracy. This in vivo imaging approach will enable us to image the distribution and correlation of synaptic proteins along axons, and so it will complement our reconstitution and single molecule biophysical studies.

Public Health Relevance

Neurotransmitter release is a key step in neuronal communication. Synaptic vesicle fusion is closely associated with the Ca2+ influx that follows arrival of an action potential. Exocytosis is triggered within approximately 0.2 msec of the Ca2+ arrival. We are utilizing single molecule/particle fluorescence microscopy with a reconstituted system to decipher the mechanism of the molecular machinery that controls the process of Ca2+-triggered neurotransmitter release. We hope that a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of synaptic release can be leveraged for the betterment of human health through the design of specific compounds that modulate the underlying protein-protein interactions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37MH063105-13
Application #
8442333
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Asanuma, Chiiko
Project Start
2000-08-10
Project End
2016-02-29
Budget Start
2013-03-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$379,200
Indirect Cost
$139,200
Name
Stanford University
Department
Biophysics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Brunger, Axel T; Leitz, Jeremy; Zhou, Qiangjun et al. (2018) Ca2+-Triggered Synaptic Vesicle Fusion Initiated by Release of Inhibition. Trends Cell Biol 28:631-645
White, K Ian; Zhao, Minglei; Choi, Ucheor B et al. (2018) Structural principles of SNARE complex recognition by the AAA+ protein NSF. Elife 7:
Choi, Ucheor B; Zhao, Minglei; White, K Ian et al. (2018) NSF-mediated disassembly of on- and off-pathway SNARE complexes and inhibition by complexin. Elife 7:
Zhou, Qiangjun; Zhou, Peng; Wang, Austin L et al. (2017) The primed SNARE-complexin-synaptotagmin complex for neuronal exocytosis. Nature 548:420-425
Wang, Shen; Choi, Ucheor B; Gong, Jihong et al. (2017) Conformational change of syntaxin linker region induced by Munc13s initiates SNARE complex formation in synaptic exocytosis. EMBO J 36:816-829
Lai, Ying; Choi, Ucheor B; Leitz, Jeremy et al. (2017) Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Vesicle Priming by Munc13 and Munc18. Neuron 95:591-607.e10
Gipson, Preeti; Fukuda, Yoshiyuki; Danev, Radostin et al. (2017) Morphologies of synaptic protein membrane fusion interfaces. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:9110-9115
Choi, Ucheor B; Zhao, Minglei; Zhang, Yunxiang et al. (2016) Complexin induces a conformational change at the membrane-proximal C-terminal end of the SNARE complex. Elife 5:
Gong, Jihong; Lai, Ying; Li, Xiaohong et al. (2016) C-terminal domain of mammalian complexin-1 localizes to highly curved membranes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E7590-E7599
Zhao, Minglei; Brunger, Axel T (2016) Recent Advances in Deciphering the Structure and Molecular Mechanism of the AAA+ ATPase N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor (NSF). J Mol Biol 428:1912-26

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