Biology subjects

Halff, E. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Halff, E. F..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

PKA-mediated phosphorylation of Neuroligin-2 regulates its cell surface expression and synaptic stabilisation

The trans-synaptic adhesion molecule Neuroligin-2 (NL2) is essential for the development and function of inhibitory synapses. NL2 recruits the postsynaptic scaffold protein gephyrin, which in turn stabilises GABAA receptors (GABAARs) in the postsynaptic domain. Dynamic regulation of synaptic GABAAR concentration is crucial for inhibitory neurotransmission efficacy. Changes in synaptic levels of NL2 contribute to regulating GABAAR synaptic concentration, however the mechanisms that control NL2 synaptic stabilisation are mostly unknown. Here, by combining biochemistry, imaging, single particle tracking and electrophysiology, we identify a key role for cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in synaptic stabilisation of NL2. We show that PKA-mediated phosphorylation of NL2 at S714 causes its dispersal from the synapse and reduces NL2 surface levels, leading to a loss of synaptic GABAARs. Conversely, enhanced stability of NL2 at synapses through abolishing phosphorylation leads to increased inhibitory signalling. Thus, PKA plays a key role in regulating NL2 function and synaptic inhibition.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Contrasting effects of chronic lithium, haloperidol and olanzapine exposure on synaptic clusters in the rat prefrontal cortex

The pathophysiology of the majority of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and mood disorders, involves synaptic dysfunction and/or loss, manifesting as lower levels of several presynaptic and postsynaptic marker proteins. Whether chronic exposure to antipsychotic drugs may contribute to this pattern of synaptic loss remains controversial. In contrast, the mood stabiliser lithium has shown to exhibit neurotrophic actions and is thought to enhance synapse formation. Whilst these data are not unequivocal, they suggest that antipsychotic drugs and lithium have contrasting effects on synapse density. We therefore investigated the effect of chronic exposure to lithium and to two different antipsychotics, haloperidol and olanzapine, on presynaptic Synaptic Vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) and postsynaptic Neuroligin (NLGN) clusters in the rat frontal cortex. Chronic exposure (28 days) to haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg/d) or olanzapine (7.5 mg/kg/d) had no effect on either SV2A or NLGN clusters and no overall effect on synaptic clusters. In contrast, chronic lithium exposure (2 mmol/L eq./d) significantly increased NLGN cluster density as compared to vehicle, but did not affect either SV2A or total synaptic clusters. These data are consistent with and extend our prior work, confirming no effect of either antipsychotics or lithium on SV2A clustering, but suggest contrasting effects of these drugs on the post-synapse. Although caution needs to be exerted when extrapolating results from animals to patients, these data provide clarity with regard to the effect of antipsychotics and lithium on synaptic markers, thus facilitating discrimination of drug from illness effects in human studies of synaptic pathology in psychiatric disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Cdk5 and GSK3β inhibit Fast Endophilin-Mediated Endocytosis

Endocytosis mediates the cellular uptake of micronutrients and cell surface proteins. Parallel to Clathrin-mediated endocytosis, additional Clathrin-independent endocytic routes exist, including fast Endophilin-mediated endocytosis (FEME). The latter is not constitutively active but requires the activation of selected receptors. In cell culture, however, the high levels of growth factors in the regular culture media induce spontaneous FEME, which can be suppressed upon serum starvation. Thus, we predicted a role for protein kinases in this growth factor receptor-mediated regulation of the pathway. Using chemical and genetic inhibition, we found that Cdk5 and GSK3{beta} are negative regulators of FEME. Their inhibition was sufficient to activate FEME promptly in resting cells and boosted the production of endocytic carriers containing {beta} 1-adrenergic receptor, following dobutamine addition. We established that the kinases suppress FEME at several levels. They control Dynamin-1 and Dynein recruitment and sorting of cargo receptors such as Plexin A1 and ROBO1 into FEME carriers. They do so by antagonizing the binding of Endophilin to Dynamin-1 as well as to Collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4), a Plexin A1 adaptor. Cdk5 and GSK3{beta} also hamper the binding and recruitment of Dynein onto FEME carriers by Bin1. Interestingly, we found that GSK3{beta} binds to Endophilin, thus imposing a local regulation of FEME. Collectively, these findings place the two kinases as key regulators of FEME, licensing cells for rapid uptake by the pathway only upon when Cdk5 and GSK3{beta} activity is low.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Dual role of Miro protein clusters in mitochondrial cristae organisation and ER-Mitochondria Contact Sites

Mitochondrial Rho (Miro) GTPases localize to the outer mitochondrial membrane and are essential machinery for the regulated trafficking of mitochondria to defined subcellular locations. However, their sub-mitochondrial localization and relationship with other critical mitochondrial complexes remains poorly understood. Here, using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we report that Miro proteins form nanometer-sized clusters along the mitochondrial outer membrane in association with the Mitochondrial Contact Site and Cristae Organizing System (MICOS). Using knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) we show that Miro1 and Miro2 are required for normal mitochondrial cristae architecture and endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contacts sites (ERMCS). Further, we show that Miro couples MICOS to TRAK motor protein adaptors to ensure the concerted transport of the two mitochondrial membranes and the correct distribution of cristae on the mitochondrial membrane. The Miro nanoscale organization, association with MICOS complex and regulation of ERMCS reveal new levels of control of the Miro GTPases on mitochondrial functionality.

cell biology↗