Biology subjects

Rumbaugh, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Rumbaugh, G..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

NREM Oscillations Mediate Synaptic Proteome Remodelling to Support Synapse Stabilisation

Synapses are known to remodel their proteome during sleep. However, the exact mechanisms driving this remodelling and its impact on synaptic function or cognition are not well understood. We combine 24-hour EEG recordings with time-resolved synaptic proteomics in a model of SYNGAP1-Related Disorders to reveal a mechanism by which slow-waves and spindles, two NREM sleep oscillations, mediate the remodelling of the synaptic proteome. Moreover, we uncover that this remodelling promotes synaptic stabilization, which could support sleep-dependent memory consolidation. In contrast, the increase of slow-waves and decrease of spindles found in Syngap1+/- mice would activate molecular pathways involved in synaptic weakening instead of stabilization. This is consistent with the proposed roles of slow-waves and spindles in synaptic downscaling and potentiation, respectively. Here, we provide evidence on how NREM oscillations regulate the synaptic proteome and reveal a pathological mechanism that could be of relevance to all neurodevelopmental disorders coursing with sleep disturbances.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Syngap1 Synchronizes Relative Neuronal Maturation Across Cortical Areas to Organize Distributed Functional Networks

Neurodevelopmental disorders are increasingly viewed as disorders of distributed brain networks, yet how developmental perturbations generate co-occurring hypo- and hyper-functional network states remains unclear. We show that Syngap1 haploinsufficiency in mice produces opposing cortical activity patterns: sensory-evoked responses exhibit reduced gain, whereas state-linked movement/arousal activity is amplified. Restricting Syngap1 deficiency to developing cortical excitatory neurons reproduces distributed sensory hypofunction but not movement-linked hyperfunction, indicating non-uniform, cell-type-dependent contributions to these patterns. During a postnatal window of circuit assembly, Layer 2/3 intratelencephalic populations across cortical regions occupy distinct maturation states, reflected in separable dendritic architectures and intrinsic excitability. Perturbing Syngap1 reduces this developmental separability through region-dependent, opposite-direction effects on dendritic maturation and inversion of ERK-sensitive control of intrinsic excitability. We propose that coordinated relative maturation of interacting neuronal populations establishes distributed network balance, and that gene-dependent shifts in this coordination produce stable, opposing network states.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Mesoscale proximity labeling to study macro changes to chromatin occupancy

Proximity labeling traditionally identifies interactomes of a single protein or RNA, though this approach limits mechanistic understanding of biomolecules functioning within complex systems. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for deciphering ligand-induced changes to global biomolecular interactions by enabling proximity labelling at the mesoscale, across an entire cellular system. By inserting nanoscale proximity labelling catalysts throughout chromatin, this system, MesoMap, provided new insights into how HDAC inhibitors regulate gene expression. Furthermore, it revealed that the orphaned drug candidate, SR-1815, regulates disease-linked Syngap1 gene expression through direct inhibition of kinases implicated in both neurological disorders and cancer. Through precise mapping of global chromatin mobility, MesoMap promotes insights into how drug-like chemical probes induce transcriptional dynamics within healthy and disease-associated cellular states.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

The Endo-GeneScreen Platform Identifies Drug-Like Probes that Regulate Endogenous Protein Levels within Physiological Contexts

Traditional phenotypic drug discovery platforms have suffered from poor scalability and a lack of mechanistic understanding of newly discovered phenotypic probes. To address this, we created Endo-GeneScreen (EGS), a high-throughput enabled screening platform that identifies bioactive small molecules capable of regulating endogenous protein expression encoded by any preselected target gene within a biologically appropriate context. As a proof-of-concept, EGS successfully identified drug candidates that up-regulate endogenous expression of neuronal Syngap1, a gene that causes a neurodevelopmental disorder when haploinsufficient. For example, SR-1815, a previously unknown and undescribed kinase inhibitor, alleviated major cellular consequences of Syngap1 loss-of-function by restoring normal SynGAP protein levels and dampening neuronal hyperactivity within haploinsufficient neurons. Moreover, we demonstrate that EGS assays accelerate preclinical development of identified drug candidates and facilitate mode-of-action deconvolution studies. Thus, EGS identifies first-in-class bioactive small molecule probes that promote biological discovery and precision therapeutic development.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Development of Clinically Viable Non-Muscle Myosin II Small Molecule Inhibitors with Broad Therapeutic Potential

Non-muscle myosin II (NMII), a molecular motor that regulates critical processes such as cytokinesis and neuronal synaptic plasticity, has substantial therapeutic potential. However, translating this potential to in vivo use has been hampered by the lack of selective tools. The most prototypical non-selective inhibitor, blebbistatin inactivates both NMII and cardiac myosin II (CMII), a key regulator of heart function. Using rational drug design, we developed a series of NMII inhibitors that improve tolerability by selectively targeting NMII over CMII, including MT-228, which has excellent properties such as high brain penetration and efficacy in preclinical models of stimulant use disorder, which has no current FDA-approved therapies. The structure of MT-228 bound to myosin II provides insight into its 17-fold selectivity for NMII over CMII. MT-228s broad therapeutic window opens the door to new disease treatments and provides valuable tools for the scientific community, along with promising leads for future medication development. HighlightsO_LIResearch suggests numerous indications, from axon regeneration and cancer, would benefit from a small molecule inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II, a molecular motor that regulates the actin cytoskeleton. C_LIO_LICurrent chemical probe options are very limited and lack sufficient safety for in vivo C_LIO_LIstudies, which we show is primarily due to potent inhibition of cardiac myosin II. C_LIO_LIRational design that focused on improving target selectivity over the pan-myosin II inhibitor, blebbistatin, led to the identification of MT-228, a small molecule inhibitor with a wide therapeutic window. C_LIO_LIHigh-resolution structure of MT-228 bound to myosin II reveals that selectivity results from a different positioning compared to blebbistatin and an important sequence difference between cardiac and non-muscle myosin II in the inhibitor binding pocket. C_LIO_LIA single administration of MT-228 shows long-lasting efficacy in animal models of stimulant use disorder, a current unmet and rapidly escalating need with no FDA-approved treatments. C_LI

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

MT-125 Inhibits Non-Muscle Myosin IIA and IIB, Synergizes with Oncogenic Kinase Inhibitors, and Prolongs Survival in Glioblastoma

We have identified a NMIIA and IIB-specific small molecule inhibitor, MT-125, and have studied its effects in GBM. MT-125 has high brain penetrance and retention and an excellent safety profile; blocks GBM invasion and cytokinesis, consistent with the known roles of NMII; and prolongs survival as a single agent in murine GBM models. MT-125 increases signaling along both the PDGFR- and MAPK-driven pathways through a mechanism that involves the upregulation of reactive oxygen species, and it synergizes with FDA-approved PDGFR and mTOR inhibitors in vitro. Combining MT-125 with sunitinib, a PDGFR inhibitor, or paxalisib, a combined PI3 Kinase/mTOR inhibitor significantly improves survival in orthotopic GBM models over either drug alone, and in the case of sunitinib, markedly prolongs survival in [~]40% of mice. Our results provide a powerful rationale for developing NMII targeting strategies to treat cancer and demonstrate that MT-125 has strong clinical potential for the treatment of GBM. HighlightsO_LIMT-125 is a highly specific small molecule inhibitor of non-muscle myosin IIA and IIB, is well-tolerated, and achieves therapeutic concentrations in the brain with systemic dosing. C_LIO_LITreating preclinical models of glioblastoma with MT-125 produces durable improvements in survival. C_LIO_LIMT-125 stimulates PDGFR- and MAPK-driven signaling in glioblastoma and increases dependency on these pathways. C_LIO_LICombining MT-125 with an FDA-approved PDGFR inhibitor in a mouse GBM model synergizes to improve median survival over either drug alone, and produces tumor free, prolonged survival in over 40% of mice. C_LI

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Sensorimotor Integration Supporting Perception Requires Syngap1 Expression in Cortex

Perception, a cognitive construct, emerges through sensorimotor integration (SMI). The genetic mechanisms that shape SMI required for perception are unknown. Here, we demonstrate in mice that expression of the autism/intellectual disability gene, Syngap1, in cortical excitatory neurons is required for formation of somatomotor networks that promote SMI-mediated perception. Cortical Syngap1 expression was necessary and sufficient for setting tactile sensitivity, sustaining tactile object exploration, and promoting tactile learning. Mice with deficient Syngap1 expression exhibited impaired neural dynamics induced by exploratory touches within a cortical-thalamic network known to promote attention and perception. Disrupted neuronal dynamics were associated with circuit-specific long-range synaptic connectivity abnormalities. Our data support a model where autonomous Syngap1 expression in cortical excitatory neurons promotes cognitive abilities through assembly of circuits that integrate temporally-overlapping sensory and motor signals, a process that promotes perception and attention. These data provide systems-level insights into the robust association between Syngap1 expression and cognitive ability.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Basolateral Amygdala Corticotrophin Releasing Factor Receptor 2 Interacts with Nonmuscle Myosin II to Destabilize Memory

Inhibiting the actin motor ATPase nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) with blebbistatin (Blebb) in the basolateral amgydala (BLA) depolymerizes actin, resulting in an immediate, retrieval-independent disruption of methamphetamine (METH)-associated memory. The effect is highly selective, as NMII inhibition has no effect in other relevant brain regions (e.g. dorsal hippocampus [dPHC], nucleus accumbens [NAc]), nor does it interfere with associations for other aversive or appetitive stimuli, including cocaine (COC). To investigate a potential source of this specificity, pharmacokinetic differences in METH and COC brain exposure were examined. Replicating METHs longer half-life with COC did not render the COC association susceptible to disruption by NMII inhibition. Therefore, transcriptional differences were next assessed. Comparative RNA-seq profiling in the BLA, dHPC and NAc following METH or COC conditioning identified crhr2, which encodes the corticotrophin releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF2), as uniquely upregulated by METH in the BLA. CRF2 antagonism with Astressin-2B (AS2B) had no effect on METH-associated memory after consolidation, allowing for determination of CRF2 influences on NMII-based susceptibility after METH conditioning. Pretreatment with AS2B occluded the ability of Blebb to disrupt an established METH-associated memory. Alternatively, the Blebb-induced, retrieval-independent memory disruption seen with METH was mimicked for COC when combined with CRF2 overexpression in the BLA and its ligand, UCN3 during conditioning. These results indicate that BLA CRF2 receptor activation during learning can prevent stabilization of the actin-myosin cytoskeleton supporting the memory, rendering it vulnerable to disruption via NMII inhibition. CRF2 represents an interesting target for BLA-dependent memory destabilization via downstream effects on NMII.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Syngap1 Regulates Cortical Circuit Assembly by Controlling Membrane Excitability

Gene expression intersects with neural activity to produce cortical circuits during brain development. However, the cell biological mechanisms linking gene expression to activity-dependent cortical circuit assembly remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate in mice that a newly discovered function of the neurodevelopmental disorder gene, Syngap1, is to cell-autonomously control intrinsic membrane excitability (IME) in developing cortical glutamatergic neurons. Syngap1 regulation of IME was mechanistically linked to wiring of a cortical circuit motif required for sensory processing and behavioral action. Restoring depressed IME in Syngap1 deficient neurons through genetic targeting of hyper-functional potassium currents unleashed deficient dendritic morphogenesis in upper lamina sensory cortex pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, enhancing dendritic morphogenesis was sufficient to stimulate assembly of translaminar feed-forward excitatory circuit motifs. Thus, Syngap1 promotes excitatory circuit assembly during cortical development by maintaining IME in a range that enables trophic neuronal activity to maximize pyramidal cell somatodendritic maturation and subsequent synapse formation. HighlightsO_LISyngap1 cell-autonomously tunes cortical pyramidal neuron IME in vivo C_LIO_LISyngap1-IME is regulated in part by control of neuronal potassium currents C_LIO_LISyngap1 enhancement of IME drives dendritic maturation in pyramidal cells C_LIO_LISyngap1 tuning of IME-regulated dendritic maturation promotes circuit assembly C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Endogenous Syngap1 Alpha Splice Forms Promote Cognitive Function and Seizure Protection

Loss-of-function variants in SYNAGP1 cause a developmental encephalopathy defined by cognitive impairment, autistic features, and epilepsy. SYNGAP1 splicing leads to expression of distinct functional protein isoforms. Splicing imparts multiple cellular functions of SynGAP proteins through coding of distinct C-terminal motifs. However, it remains unknown how these different splice sequences function in vivo to regulate neuronal function and behavior. Reduced expression of SynGAP-1/2 C-terminal splice variants in mice caused severe phenotypes, including reduced survival, impaired learning, and reduced seizure latency. In contrast, upregulation of 1/2 expression improved learning and increased seizure latency. Mice expressing 1-specific mutations, which disrupted SynGAP cellular functions without altering protein expression, promoted seizure, disrupted synapse plasticity, and impaired learning. These findings demonstrate that endogenous SynGAP isoforms with 1/2 spliced sequences promote cognitive function and impart seizure protection. Regulation of SynGAP- expression or function may be a viable therapeutic strategy to broadly improve cognitive function and mitigate seizure.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Discovery of a Novel, Selective and Short-Acting Skeletal Myosin II Inhibitor

Myosin IIs, actin-based motors that utilize the chemical energy of ATP to generate force, have potential as therapeutic targets. Their heavy chains differentiate the family into muscle (skeletal [SkMII], cardiac, smooth) and nonmuscle myosin IIs. Despite therapeutic potential for muscle disorders, no SkMII-specific inhibitor has been reported and characterized. Here we present the discovery, synthesis and characterization of "skeletostatins", novel derivatives of the pan-myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin, with selectivity within the myosin IIs for SkMII. In addition, the skeletostatins bear improved potency, solubility and photostability, without cytotoxicity. Based on its optimal in vitro profile, Skeletostatin 1s in vivo tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetics were determined. Skeletostatin 1 was well-tolerated in mice, impaired motor performance, and had an excellent muscle to plasma ratio. Skeletostatins are useful probes for basic research and a strong starting point for drug development.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2020

Human SYNGAP1 Regulates the Development of Neuronal Activity by Controlling Dendritic and Synaptic Maturation

SYNGAP1 is a major genetic risk factor for global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and epileptic encephalopathy. De novo loss-of-function variants in this gene cause a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by cognitive impairment, social-communication disorder, and early-onset seizures. Cell biological studies in mouse and rat neurons have shown that Syngap1 regulates developing excitatory synapse structure and function, with loss-of-function variants driving formation of larger dendritic spines and stronger glutamatergic transmission. However, studies to date have been limited to mouse and rat neurons. Therefore, it remains unknown how SYNGAP1 loss-of-function impacts the development and function of human neurons. To address this, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology to ablate SYNGAP1 protein expression in neurons derived from a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (hiPSC). Reducing SynGAP protein expression in developing hiPSC-derived neurons enhanced dendritic morphogenesis, leading to larger neurons compared to those derived from isogenic controls. Consistent with larger dendritic fields, we also observed a greater number of morphologically defined excitatory synapses in cultures containing these neurons. Moreover, neurons with reduced SynGAP protein had stronger excitatory synapses and expressed synaptic activity earlier in development. Finally, distributed network spiking activity appeared earlier, was substantially elevated, and exhibited greater bursting behavior in SYNGAP1 null neurons. We conclude that SYNGAP1 regulates the postmitotic maturation of human neurons made from hiPSCs, which influences how activity develops within nascent neural networks. Alterations to this fundamental neurodevelopmental process may contribute to the etiology of SYNGAP1-related disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Syngap1 Dynamically Regulates the Fine-Scale Reorganization of Cortical Circuits in Response to Sensory Experience

Experience induces complex, neuron-specific changes in population activity within sensory cortex circuits. However, the mechanisms that enable neuron-specific changes within cortical populations remain unclear. To explore the idea that synapse strengthening is involved, we studied fine-scale cortical plasticity in Syngap1 mice, a neurodevelopmental disorder model useful for linking synapse biology to circuit functions. Repeated functional imaging of the same L2/3 somatosensory cortex neurons during single whisker experience revealed that Syngap1 selectively regulated the plasticity of a low-active, or "silent", neuronal subpopulation. Syngap1 also regulated spike-timing-dependent synaptic potentiation and experience-mediated in vivo synapse bouton formation, but not synaptic depression or bouton elimination in L2/3. Adult re-expression of Syngap1 restored plasticity of "silent" neurons, demonstrating that this gene controls dynamic cellular processes required for population-specific changes to cortical circuits during experience. These findings suggest that abnormal experience-dependent redistribution of cortical population activity may contribute to the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Splicing of the SynGAP Carboxyl-Terminus Enables Isoform-Specific Tuning of NMDA Receptor Signaling Linked to Cognitive Function

SynGAP-1 is a splice variant of the neurodevelopmental disorder risk gene, SYNGAP1/Syngap1. 1 encodes the C-terminal PDZ binding motif (PBM) that promotes liquid-liquid phase separation, a candidate process for postsynaptic density organization within excitatory synapses. However, it remains unknown how the endogenous SynGAP PBM regulates synapse properties and related cognitive functions. We found that a major PBM function in mice is to limit the mobility of SynGAP-1 in response to NMDA receptor activation. Genetic disruption of the PBM increased SynGAP-1 mobility to levels consistent with other non-PBM-containing C-terminal isoforms. This resulted in a lowering of the threshold for NMDA receptor-dependent signaling required for plasticity, leading to aberrant strengthening of excitatory synapses in spontaneously active neurons. PBM-deficient animals also exhibited a lower seizure threshold, disrupted LTP, and impaired cognition. Thus, the PBM enables isoform-specific SynGAP gating of NMDA receptor function, a mechanism linking synaptic signaling dynamics to network excitability and cognition.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

A Simple and Robust Cell Based Assay for the Discovery of Novel Cytokinesis Inhibitors

Cytokinesis is the last step of mitotic cell division that separates the cytoplasm of dividing cells. Small molecule inhibitors targeting either the elements of the regulatory pathways controlling cytokinesis, or the terminal effectors have been of interest as potential drug candidates for the treatment of various diseases. Here we have developed a cell-based assay for the discovery of novel cytokinesis inhibitors. The assay is performed in a 96-well plate format in 48 hours. Living cells, nuclei and nuclei of dead cells are revealed by a single staining step with three fluorescent dyes, followed by live cell imaging using an automated fluorescence microscope. The primary signal is the nuclei-to-cell ratio (NCR). In the presence of cytokinesis inhibitors, this ratio is expected to increase over time, as the ratio of multinucleated cells increases in the population. Cytotoxicity is quantified as the ratio of dead nuclei to total nuclei. A screening window coefficient (Z) of 0.65 indicates that the assay is suitable for screening purposes, as the positive and negative controls are well-separated. EC50 values for four compounds can be reliably determined in a single 96-well plate by using only six different compound concentrations. An excellent test-retest reliability (R2=0.998) was found for EC50 values covering a [~]1500-fold range of potencies. The robustness, simplicity and flexibility of the assay is demonstrated here by using modulators of actin dynamics with different mechanisms of action (jasplakinolide, cytochalasin D and swinholide A) and derivatives of the nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Syngap Splice Variants Display Heterogeneous Spatio-Temporal Expression And Subcellular Distribution In The Developing Mammalian Brain

The Syngap1 gene is a major regulator of synapse biology and neural circuit function. Genetic variants linked to epilepsy and intellectual disability disrupt synaptic function and neural excitability. The SynGAP protein has been involved in multiple signaling pathways and can regulate small GTPases with very different functions. Yet, the molecular bases behind this pleiotropy are poorly understood. We hypothesize that different SynGAP isoforms will mediate different sets of functions and that deciphering their spatio-temporal expression and subcellular localization will accelerate our understanding of the multiple functions performed by SynGAP. Using antibodies that detect all isoforms of SynGAP, we found that its subcellular localization changed throughout postnatal development. Consistent with previous reports, SynGAP was enriched in the postsynaptic density in the mature forebrain. However, this was age-dependent and SynGAP was predominantly found in non-synaptic locations in a period of postnatal development highly sensitive to SynGAP levels. Furthermore, we identified different expression patterns in the spatial and temporal axes for different SynGAP isoforms. Particularly noticeable was the delayed expression of SynGAP 1 isoforms, which bind to PSD-95 at the postsynaptic density, in cortex and hippocampus during the first two weeks of postnatal development. The subcellular localization of SynGAP was also isoform-dependent. While, 1 isoforms were highly enriched in the postsynaptic density, other C-terminal isoforms were less enriched or even more abundant in non-synaptic locations, particularly during the postnatal period. Thus, the regulation of expression and subcellular distribution of SynGAP isoforms may contribute to isoform-specific regulation of small GTPases, explaining SynGAP pleiotropy.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Methamphetamine learning induces persistent nonmuscle myosin II-dependent spine motility in the basolateral amygdala

Nonmuscle myosin II inhibition (NMIIi) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) selectively disrupts memories associated with methamphetamine (METH) days after learning, without retrieval. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this selective vulnerability remain poorly understood. A known function of NMII is to transiently activate dendritic spine actin dynamics with learning. Therefore, we hypothesized that METH-associated learning perpetuates NMII-driven actin dynamics in dendritic spines, leading to an extended window of vulnerability for memory disruption. Two-photon imaging of actin-mediated spine motility in neurons from memory-related structures, BLA and CA1, revealed a persistent increase in spine motility after METH-associated learning that was restricted to BLA neurons. METH-induced changes to BLA spine dynamics were reversed by a single systemic injection of an NMII inhibitor. Thus, a perpetual form of NMII-driven spine actin dynamics in BLA neurons may contribute to the unique susceptibility of METH-associated memories.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

microRNA mir-598-3p mediates susceptibility to stress-enhancement of remote fear memory

microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potent regulators of learning, recent memory and extinction. However, our understanding of miRNAs directly involved in regulating complex psychiatric conditions perpetuated by aberrant memory, such as in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), remains limited. To begin to address the role of miRNAs in persistent memory, we performed small-RNA sequencing on basolateral amygdala (BLA) tissue to identify miRNAs altered by auditory fear conditioning (FC) one month after training. mir-598-3p, a highly conserved miRNA previously unstudied in the brain, was downregulated in the BLA. Further decreasing BLA mir-598-3p levels did not alter the expression or extinction of the remote fear memory. Given that stress is a critical component in PTSD, we next assessed the impact of stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) on mir-598-3p levels, finding the miRNA is elevated in the BLA of male, but not female, mice susceptible to the effects of stress in SEFL. Accordingly, intra-BLA inhibition of mir-598-3p interfered with expression and extinction of the remote fear memory in male, but not female, mice. This effect could not be attributed to an anxiolytic effect of miRNA inhibition. Finally, bioinformatic analysis following quantitative proteomics on BLA tissue collected 30 days post-SEFL training identified putative mir-598-3p targets and related pathways mediating the differential susceptibility, with evidence for regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

neuroscience↗