JNK activity modulates postsynaptic scaffold protein SAP102 and kainate receptor dynamics in dendritic spines.

Synapse formation depends on the coordinated expression and regulation of scaffold proteins. The JNK family kinases play a role in scaffold protein regulation, but the nature of this functional interaction in dendritic spines requires further investigation. Here, using a combination of biochemical methods and live-cell imaging strategies, we show that the dynamics of the synaptic scaffold molecule SAP102 are negatively regulated by JNK inhibition, that SAP102 is a direct phosphorylation target of JNK3, and that SAP102 regulation by JNK is restricted to neurons that harbor mature synapses. We further demonstrate that SAP102 and JNK3 cooperate in the regulated trafficking of kainate receptors to the cell membrane. Specifically, we observe that SAP102, JNK3, and the kainate receptor subunit GluK2 exhibit overlapping expression at synaptic sites and that modulating JNK activity influences the surface expression of the kainate receptor subunit GluK2 in a neuronal context. We also show that SAP102 participates in this process in a JNK-dependent fashion. In summary, our data support a model in which JNK-mediated regulation of SAP102 influences the dynamic trafficking of kainate receptors to postsynaptic sites, and thus shed light on common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the cognitive developmental defects associated with diverse mutations.

The synaptic scaffold protein MPP2 interacts with GABAA receptors at the periphery of the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses.

Recent advances in imaging technology have highlighted that scaffold proteins and receptors are arranged in subsynaptic nanodomains. The synaptic membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) scaffold protein membrane protein palmitoylated 2 (MPP2) is a component of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor-associated protein complexes and also binds to the synaptic cell adhesion molecule SynCAM 1. Using superresolution imaging, we show that-like SynCAM 1-MPP2 is situated at the periphery of the postsynaptic density (PSD). In order to explore MPP2-associated protein complexes, we used a quantitative comparative proteomics approach and identified multiple γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor subunits among novel synaptic MPP2 interactors. In line with a scaffold function for MPP2 in the assembly and/or modulation of intact GABAA receptors, manipulating MPP2 expression had effects on inhibitory synaptic transmission. We further show that GABAA receptors are found together with MPP2 in a subset of dendritic spines and thus highlight MPP2 as a scaffold that serves as an adaptor molecule, linking peripheral synaptic elements critical for inhibitory regulation to central structures at the PSD of glutamatergic synapses.

Characterisation of de novo MAPK10/JNK3 truncation mutations associated with cognitive disorders in two unrelated patients.

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are stress-activated serine-threonine kinases that have recently been linked to various neurological disorders. We previously described a patient with intellectual disability (ID) and seizures (Patient 1), carrying a de novo chromosome translocation affecting the CNS-expressed MAPK10/JNK3 gene. Here, we describe a second ID patient (Patient 2) with a similar translocation that likewise truncates MAPK10/JNK3, highlighting a role for JNK3 in human brain development. We have pinpointed the breakpoint in Patient 2, which is just distal to that in Patient 1. In both patients, the rearrangement resulted in a predicted protein interrupted towards the C-terminal end of the kinase domain. We demonstrate that these truncated proteins, although capable of weak interaction with various known JNK scaffolds, are not capable of phosphorylating the classical JNK target c-Jun in vitro, which suggests that the patient phenotype potentially arises from partial loss of JNK3 function. We next investigated JNK3-binding partners to further explore potential disease mechanisms. We identified PSD-95, SAP102 and SHANK3 as novel interaction partners for JNK3, and we demonstrate that JNK3 and PSD-95 exhibit partially overlapping expression at synaptic sites in cultured hippocampal neurons. Moreover, JNK3, like JNK1, is capable of phosphorylating PSD-95 in vitro, whereas disease-associated mutant JNK3 proteins do not. We conclude that reduced JNK3 activity has potentially deleterious effects on neuronal function via altered regulation of a set of post-synaptic proteins.

TRPV1 acts as a synaptic protein and regulates vesicle recycling.

Electrophysiological studies demonstrate that transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) is involved in neuronal transmission. Although it is expressed in the peripheral as well as the central nervous system, the questions remain whether TRPV1 is present in synaptic structures and whether it is involved in synaptic processes. In the present study we gathered evidence that TRPV1 can be detected in spines of cortical neurons, that it colocalizes with both pre- and postsynaptic proteins, and that it regulates spine morphology. Moreover, TRPV1 is also present in biochemically prepared synaptosomes endogenously. In F11 cells, a cell line derived from dorsal-root-ganglion neurons, TRPV1 is enriched in the tips of elongated filopodia and also at sites of cell-cell contact. In addition, we also detected TRPV1 in synaptic transport vesicles, and in transport packets within filopodia and neurites. Using FM4-64 dye, we demonstrate that recycling and/or fusion of these vesicles can be rapidly modulated by TRPV1 activation, leading to rapid reorganization of filopodial structure. These data suggest that TRPV1 is involved in processes such as neuronal network formation, synapse modulation and release of synaptic transmitters.

Disease-associated synaptic scaffold protein CNK2 modulates PSD size and influences localisation of the regulatory kinase TNIK.

Scaffold proteins are responsible for structural organisation within cells; they form complexes with other proteins to facilitate signalling pathways and catalytic reactions. The scaffold protein connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 2 (CNK2) is predominantly expressed in neural tissues and was recently implicated in X-linked intellectual disability (ID). We have investigated the role of CNK2 in neurons in order to contribute to our understanding of how CNK2 alterations might cause developmental defects, and we have elucidated a functional role for CNK2 in the molecular processes that govern morphology of the postsynaptic density (PSD). We have also identified novel CNK2 interaction partners and explored their functional interdependency with CNK2. We focussed on the novel interaction partner TRAF2- and NCK-interacting kinase TNIK, which is also associated with ID. Both CNK2 and TNIK are expressed in neuronal dendrites and concentrated in dendritic spines, and staining with synaptic markers indicates a clear postsynaptic localisation. Importantly, our data highlight that CNK2 plays a role in directing TNIK subcellular localisation, and in neurons, CNK2 participates in ensuring that this multifunctional kinase is present in the correct place at desirable levels. In summary, our data indicate that CNK2 expression is critical for modulating PSD morphology; moreover, our study highlights that CNK2 functions as a scaffold with the potential to direct the localisation of regulatory proteins within the cell. Importantly, we describe a novel link between CNK2 and the regulatory kinase TNIK, and provide evidence supporting the idea that alterations in CNK2 localisation and expression have the potential to influence the behaviour of TNIK and other important regulatory molecules in neurons.

Intramolecular domain dynamics regulate synaptic MAGUK protein interactions.

PSD-95 MAGUK family scaffold proteins are multi-domain organisers of synaptic transmission that contain three PDZ domains followed by an SH3-GK domain tandem. This domain architecture allows coordinated assembly of protein complexes composed of neurotransmitter receptors, synaptic adhesion molecules and downstream signalling effectors. Here we show that binding of monomeric CRIPT-derived PDZ3 ligands to the third PDZ domain of PSD-95 induces functional changes in the intramolecular SH3-GK domain assembly that influence subsequent homotypic and heterotypic complex formation. We identify PSD-95 interactors that differentially bind to the SH3-GK domain tandem depending on its conformational state. Among these interactors, we further establish the heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gnb5 as a PSD-95 complex partner at dendritic spines of rat hippocampal neurons. The PSD-95 GK domain binds to Gnb5, and this interaction is triggered by CRIPT-derived PDZ3 ligands binding to the third PDZ domain of PSD-95, unraveling a hierarchical binding mechanism of PSD-95 complex formation.

Protein kinase C regulates AMPA receptor auxiliary protein Shisa9/CKAMP44 through interactions with neuronal scaffold PICK1.

Synaptic α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) receptors are essential mediators of neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Shisa9/cysteine-knot AMPAR modulating protein 44 (CKAMP44) is a transmembrane protein recently found to be present in AMPA receptor-associated protein complexes. Here, we show that the cytosolic tail of Shisa9/CKAMP44 interacts with multiple scaffold proteins that are important for regulating synaptic plasticity in central neurons. We focussed on the interaction with the scaffold protein PICK1, which facilitates the formation of a tripartite complex with the protein kinase C (PKC) and thereby regulates phosphorylation of Shisa9/CKAMP44 C-terminal residues. This work has implications for our understanding of how PICK1 modulates AMPAR-mediated transmission and plasticity and also highlights a novel function of PKC.

MPP2 is a postsynaptic MAGUK scaffold protein that links SynCAM1 cell adhesion molecules to core components of the postsynaptic density.

At neuronal synapses, multiprotein complexes of trans-synaptic adhesion molecules, scaffold proteins and neurotransmitter receptors assemble to essential building blocks required for synapse formation and maintenance. Here we describe a novel role for the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) protein MPP2 (MAGUK p55 subfamily member 2) at synapses of rat central neurons. Through interactions mediated by its C-terminal SH3-GK domain module, MPP2 binds to the abundant postsynaptic scaffold proteins PSD-95 and GKAP and localises to postsynaptic sites in hippocampal neurons. MPP2 also colocalises with the synaptic adhesion molecule SynCAM1. We demonstrate that the SynCAM1 C-terminus interacts directly with the MPP2 PDZ domain and that MPP2 does not interact in this manner with other highly abundant postsynaptic transmembrane proteins. Our results highlight a previously unexplored role for MPP2 at postsynaptic sites as a scaffold that links SynCAM1 cell adhesion molecules to core proteins of the postsynaptic density.

Synaptic MAGUK multimer formation is mediated by PDZ domains and promoted by ligand binding.

To examine the scaffolding properties of PSD-95, we have taken advantage of established ligand/PDZ domain interactions and developed a cell-based assay for investigating protein complex formation. This assay enables quantitative analysis of PDZ domain-mediated protein clustering using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Two nonfluorescent halves of EYFP were fused to C-terminal PDZ ligand sequences to generate probes that sense for PDZ domain binding grooves of adjacent (interacting) molecules. When these probes are brought into proximity by the PDZ domains of a multiprotein scaffold, a functional fluorescent EYFP molecule can be detected. We have used this system to examine the properties of selected PSD-95 variants and thereby delineated regions of importance for PSD-95 complex formation. Further analysis led to the finding that PSD-95 multimerization is PDZ domain-mediated and promoted by ligand binding.

CDKL5 ensures excitatory synapse stability by reinforcing NGL-1-PSD95 interaction in the postsynaptic compartment and is impaired in patient iPSC-derived neurons.

Mutations of the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) and netrin-G1 (NTNG1) genes cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with clinical features that are closely related to Rett syndrome, including intellectual disability, early-onset intractable epilepsy and autism. We report here that CDKL5 is localized at excitatory synapses and contributes to correct dendritic spine structure and synapse activity. To exert this role, CDKL5 binds and phosphorylates the cell adhesion molecule NGL-1. This phosphorylation event ensures a stable association between NGL-1 and PSD95. Accordingly, phospho-mutant NGL-1 is unable to induce synaptic contacts whereas its phospho-mimetic form binds PSD95 more efficiently and partially rescues the CDKL5-specific spine defects. Interestingly, similarly to rodent neurons, iPSC-derived neurons from patients with CDKL5 mutations exhibit aberrant dendritic spines, thus suggesting a common function of CDKL5 in mice and humans.