Biology subjects

Daburon, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Daburon, S..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

βII and βIII spectrin paralogues define robustness and specialization of the neuronal membrane periodic skeleton

Neuron connectivity and signal processing rely on a complex, dynamic morphology regulated by the cytoskeleton. The membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS), a 190-nm periodic actin-spectrin lattice, is a conserved feature of neurons. Here, we show that the dendritic MPS is built from a dual {beta}-spectrin system in which {beta}II- and {beta}III-spectrins are co-expressed and interleaved at the nanoscale in shafts and spine necks. 3D MINFLUX nanoscopy suggests that these paralogues form both homotypic ({beta}II- or {beta}III-only) and heterotypic ({beta}II/{beta}III) tetramers with an approximately 100-nm radial periodicity. Either paralogue alone is sufficient to maintain lattice architecture, whereas their combined loss disrupts MPS integrity. Using targeted mutagenesis, we show that actin binding is required to stabilize both paralogues within the MPS, whereas {beta}III-spectrin additionally depends on phosphoinositide interactions. Our findings reveal that, unlike the axonal MPS, the dendritic MPS is a composite scaffold in which structural redundancy coexists with paralogue-specific regulatory mechanisms, with potential consequences for synaptic function.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

A nanobody-gold conjugate for the detection of GFP-tagged synaptic proteins by dual light-electron microscopy

To meet the constantly improving spatial resolution offered by advanced microscopy techniques to study sub-cellular structures in biology, there is a need for small, monovalent probes that label proteins of interest with high specificity and minimal distance to the target, and are compatible with various imaging modalities. In this direction, we designed a strategy to generate minimal-size probes composed of a controlled 1:1 conjugate between a small domain binder and a 1.4 nm-gold nanoparticle with direct access to fluorescent labelling for dual light-electron microscopy. Our approach was applied to the widely used single-domain antibody against GFP (GBP). The modified GBP-gold conjugate retained normal binding to purified GFP in vitro, specifically labelled COS-7 cells and neurons expressing GFP-tagged synaptic membrane proteins, and penetrated readily into tight cell-cell contacts including neuronal synapses. The optional fluorescence labelling with a second ALFA nanobody allowed dSTORM imaging, while the silver-enhanced nanogold particle detected in TEM was used to characterize the number and nanoscale organization of individual proteins in the synaptic cleft. We counted a small number of endogenous neurexins in the pre-synapse and a larger number of AMPA receptors in the post-synapse, often aligned in nanodomains. This GBP-gold probe thus emerges as a potent tool to label an ever-increasing repertoire of GFP-tagged proteins in numerous biological organisms and models.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Paralog-specific intrabodies for PSD-93 and SAP102 expand the molecular toolkit to resolve excitatory synapse organization

A scarcity of live, paralog-specific tools has limited analysis of PSD-MAGUKs at excitatory synapses. To address this gap, we engineered small, 10FN3-derived binders that selectively recognize PSD-93 and SAP102 -alongside an enhanced PSD-95 reagent- and converted them into regulated, gene-encoded intrabodies for endogenous imaging. Through sequence-guided selection and targeted optimization, we obtained high-specificity reagents that label their native targets in neurons with minimal perturbation and support multiplexed live-cell and advanced imaging modalities. This toolkit enables differential visualization of MAGUK paralogs at native levels and provides a practical route to dissect their distinct contributions to synapse organization and plasticity.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

Synapse specific and plasticity-regulated AMPAR mobility tunes synaptic integration

Synaptic responses adapt to fast repetitive inputs during bursts of neuronal network activity over timescales of milliseconds to seconds, either transiently facilitating or depressing. This high-frequency stimulus-dependent short-term synaptic plasticity (HF-STP) relies on a number of molecular processes that collectively endow synapses with filtering properties for information processing, optimized for the transmission of certain input frequencies and patterns in distinct circuits 1-3. Changes in HF-STP are traditionally thought to stem from changes in pre-synaptic transmitter release 1,2, but post-synaptic modifications in receptor biophysical properties or surface diffusion also regulate HF-STP 4-11. A major challenge in understanding synapse function is to decipher how pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms synergistically tune synaptic transmission efficacy during HF-STP, and to determine how neuronal activity modifies post-synaptic signal computation and integration to diversify neuronal circuit function. Here, taking advantage of new molecular tools to directly visualize glutamate release 12 and specifically manipulate the surface diffusion of endogenous AMPAR in intact circuits 13, we define the respective contributions of pre-synaptic glutamate release, AMPAR desensitization and surface mobility to frequency-dependent synaptic adaptation. We demonstrate that post-synaptic gain control and signal integration capacity in synaptic networks is influenced by synapse-specific differences in AMPAR desensitization and diffusion-trapping characteristics that are shaped by molecular signaling events recruited during LTP.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

High-resolution imaging and manipulation of endogenous AMPA receptor surface mobility during synaptic plasticity and learning

Regulation of synaptic neurotransmitter receptor content is a fundamental mechanism for tuning synaptic efficacy during experience-dependent plasticity and behavioral adaptation. However, experimental approaches to track and modify receptor movements in integrated experimental systems are limited. Exploiting AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPAR) as a model, we generated a knock-in mouse expressing the biotin acceptor peptide (AP) tag on the GluA2 extracellular N-terminus. Cell-specific introduction of biotin ligase allows the use of monovalent or tetravalent avidin variants to respectively monitor or manipulate the surface mobility of endogenous AMPAR containing biotinylated AP-GluA2 in neuronal subsets. AMPAR immobilization precluded the expression of long-term potentiation and formation of contextual fear memory, allowing for target-specific control of the expression of synaptic plasticity and animal behavior. The AP tag knock-in model offers unprecedented access to resolve and control the spatiotemporal dynamics of endogenous receptors, and opens new avenues to study the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and learning.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

MDGAs are fast-diffusing molecules that delay excitatory synapse development by altering neuroligin behavior

MDGAs are molecules that can bind neuroligins in cis and interfere with trans-synaptic neurexin-neuroligin interactions, thereby impairing synapse development. However, the sub-cellular localization and dynamics of MDGAs, as well as their specific mode of action in neurons are still unclear. Here, using both surface immunostaining of endogenous MDGAs and single molecule tracking of recombinant MDGAs in dissociated hippocampal neurons, we show that MDGA1 and MDGA2 molecules are homogeneously distributed and exhibit fast membrane diffusion, with a small reduction in mobility across neuronal maturation in culture Using shRNAs and CRISPR/Cas9 strategies to knock-down/out MDGA1 or MDGA2, we demonstrate an increase in the density of excitatory synapses accompanied by enhanced membrane immobilization and an increase in the phosphotyrosine level of neuroligins associated with excitatory post-synaptic differentiation. Finally, we show that decreasing MDGA expression level reduces the mobility of AMPA receptors and increases the frequency of AMPA receptor mediated mEPSCs. Overall, our results support a mechanism by which interactions between MDGAs and neuroligin-1 delays the assembly of functional excitatory synapses containing AMPA receptors.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Pharmacological modulation of AMPA receptor surface diffusion restores hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory in Huntington’s disease

Impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity is increasingly considered to play an important role in cognitive impairment in Huntingtons disease (HD). However, the molecular basis of synaptic plasticity defects is not fully understood. Combining live-cell nanoparticle tracking and super-resolution imaging, we show that dysregulation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) surface diffusion represents a molecular basis underlying the aberrant hippocampal synaptic plasticity during HD. AMPARs surface diffusion is increased in various HD neuronal models, which results in the failure of AMPARs surface stabilization after long-term potentiation (LTP) stimuli. This appears to result from a defective brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) - Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathway that impacts the interaction between the AMPAR auxiliary subunit stargazin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Notably, the disturbed AMPAR surface diffusion is rescued, via BDNF signaling pathway and by the antidepressant tianeptine. Tianeptine also restores the impaired LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory as well as anxiety/depression-like behavior in different HD mouse models. We thus unveil a mechanistic framework underlying hippocampal synaptic and memory dysfunction and propose a new perspective in HD treatment by targeting AMPAR surface diffusion.

neuroscience↗