Muscle Van Gogh-like 2 shapes the neuromuscular synapse by regulating MuSK signaling activity

Abstract

The development of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) requires dynamic trans-synaptic coordination orchestrated by secreted factors, including the morphogens of the Wnt family. Yet, how the signal of these synaptic cues is transduced, and particularly during the regulation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) accumulation in the postsynaptic membrane remains unclear. We explored the function of Van Gogh-Like protein 2 (Vangl2), a core component of Wnt planar cell polarity signaling. We showed that the conditional genetic ablation of Vangl2 in muscle reproduces the NMJ differentiation defects in mice with constitutive Vangl2 deletion. These alterations persisted into adulthood with NMJs disassembly leading to an impairment of neurotransmission and motor function deficits. Mechanistically, we found that Vangl2 and the muscle-specific kinase MuSK acted in the same genetic pathway and that Vangl2 binds MuSK, thus controlling its signaling activity. Our results identify Vangl2 as a key player of the core complex of molecules shaping neuromuscular synapses and shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying NMJ assembly.