Christophe Leterrier

Constitutive Endocytic Cycle of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor

The CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) displays a significant level of ligand-independent (i.e. constitutive) activity, either when heterologously expressed in nonneuronal cells or in neurons where CB1Rs are endogenous. The present study investigates the consequences of constitutive activity on the intracellular trafficking of CB1R. When transfected in HEK-293 cells, CB1R is present at the plasma membrane, but a substantial proportion (∼85%) of receptors is localized in intracellular vesicles. Detailed analysis of CB1-EGFP expressed in HEK-293 cells shows that the intracellular CB1R population is mostly of endocytic origin and that treatment with inverse agonist AM281 traps CB1R at the plasma membrane through a monensin-sensitive recycling pathway. Co-transfection with dominant positive or dominant negative mutants of the small GTPases Rab5 and Rab4, but not Rab11, profoundly modifies the steady-state and ligand-induced intracellular distribution of CB1R, indicating that constitutive endocytosis is Rab5-dependent, whereas constitutive recycling is mediated by Rab4. In conclusion, our results indicate that, due to its natural constitutive activity, CB1R permanently and constitutively cycles between plasma membrane and endosomes, leading to a predominantly intracellular localization at steady state.

Constitutive activation drives compartment-selective endocytosis and axonal targeting of type 1 cannabinoid receptors.

The type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) is one of the most abundant G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the brain, predominantly localized to axons of GABAergic neurons. Like several other neuronal GPCRs, CB1R displays significant in vitro constitutive activity (i.e., spontaneous activation in the absence of ligand). However, a clear biological role for constitutive GPCR activity is still lacking. This question was addressed by studying the consequences of constitutive activation on the intracellular trafficking of endogenous or transfected CB1Rs in cultured hippocampal neurons using optical and electron microscopy. We found that constitutive activity results in a permanent cycle of endocytosis and recycling, which is restricted to the somatodendritic compartment. Thus, CB1Rs are continuously removed by endocytosis from the plasma membrane in the somatodendritic compartment but not in axons, where CB1Rs accumulate on surface. Blocking constitutive activity by short-term incubation with inverse agonist 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-4-methyl-N-4-morpholinyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (AM281) results in sequestration of recycled CB1Rs on the somatodendritic plasma membrane. Long-term inhibition of endocytosis by cotransfection of dominant-negative proteins results in impaired axonal polarization of surface-bound CB1Rs. Kinetic analysis shows that the majority of newly synthesized CB1Rs arrive first to the somatodendritic plasma membrane, from where they are rapidly removed by AM281-sensitive constitutive endocytosis before being delivered to axons. Thus, constitutive-activity driven somatodendritic endocytosis is required for the proper axonal targeting of CB1R, representing a novel, conformation-dependent targeting mechanism for axonal GPCRs.

Protein kinase CK2 contributes to the organization of sodium channels in axonal membranes by regulating their interactions with ankyrin G

In neurons, generation and propagation of action potentials requires the precise accumulation of sodium channels at the axonal initial segment (AIS) and in the nodes of Ranvier through ankyrin G scaffolding. We found that the ankyrin-binding motif of Nav1.2 that determines channel concentration at the AIS depends on a glutamate residue (E1111), but also on several serine residues (S1112, S1124, and S1126). We showed that phosphorylation of these residues by protein kinase CK2 (CK2) regulates Nav channel interaction with ankyrins. Furthermore, we observed that CK2 is highly enriched at the AIS and the nodes of Ranvier in vivo. An ion channel chimera containing the Nav1.2 ankyrin-binding motif perturbed endogenous sodium channel accumulation at the AIS, whereas phosphorylation-deficient chimeras did not. Finally, inhibition of CK2 activity reduced sodium channel accumulation at the AIS of neurons. In conclusion, CK2 contributes to sodium channel organization by regulating their interaction with ankyrin G.

End-binding proteins EB3 and EB1 link microtubules to ankyrin G in the axon initial segment

The axon initial segment (AIS) plays a key role in maintaining the molecular and functional polarity of the neuron. The relationship between the AIS architecture and the microtubules (MTs) supporting axonal transport is unknown. Here we provide evidence that the MT plus-end-binding (EB) proteins EB1 and EB3 have a role in the AIS in addition to their MT plus-end tracking protein behavior in other neuronal compartments. In mature neurons, EB3 is concentrated and stabilized in the AIS. We identified a direct interaction between EB3/EB1 and the AIS scaffold protein ankyrin G (ankG). In addition, EB3 and EB1 participate in AIS maintenance, and AIS disassembly through ankG knockdown leads to cell-wide up-regulation of EB3 and EB1 comets. Thus, EB3 and EB1 coordinate a molecular and functional interplay between ankG and the AIS MTs that supports the central role of ankG in the maintenance of neuronal polarity.

Nanoscale Architecture of the Axon Initial Segment Reveals an Organized and Robust Scaffold

The axon initial segment (AIS), located within the first 30 μm of the axon, has two essential roles in generating action potentials and maintaining axonal identity. AIS assembly depends on a ßIV-spectrin/ankyrin G scaffold, but its macromolecular arrangement is not well understood. Here, we quantitatively determined the AIS nanoscale architecture by using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM). First, we directly demonstrate that the 190-nm periodicity of the AIS submembrane lattice results from longitudinal, head-to-head ßIV-spectrin molecules connecting actin rings. Using multicolor 3D-STORM, we resolve the nanoscale organization of ankyrin G: its amino terminus associates with the submembrane lattice, whereas the C terminus radially extends (∼ 32 nm on average) toward the cytosol. This AIS nano-architecture is highly resistant to cytoskeletal perturbations, indicating its role in structural stabilization. Our findings provide a comprehensive view of AIS molecular architecture and will help reveal the crucial physiological functions of this compartment.

Ankyrin G restricts ion channel diffusion at the axonal initial segment before the establishment of the diffusion barrier

Ion channel immobilization by ankyrin G is regulated by casein kinase 2 in immature hippocampal neurons.

The type 1 cannabinoid receptor is highly expressed in embryonic cortical projection neurons and negatively regulates neurite growth in vitro

In the rodent and human embryonic brains, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus transiently express high levels of type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs), at a developmental stage when these areas are composed mainly of glutamatergic neurons. However, the precise cellular and subcellular localization of CB1R expression as well as effects of CB1R modulation in this cell population remain largely unknown. We report that, starting from embryonic day 12.5, CB1Rs are strongly expressed in both reelin‐expressing Cajal‐Retzius cells and newly differentiated postmitotic glutamatergic neurons of the mouse telencephalon. CB1R protein is localized first to somato‐dendritic endosomes and at later developmental stages it localizes mostly to developing axons. In young axons, CB1Rs are localized both to the axolemma and to large, often multivesicular endosomes. Acute maternal injection of agonist CP‐55940 results in the relocation of receptors from axons to somato‐dendritic endosomes, indicating the functional competence of embryonic CB1Rs. The adult phenotype of CB1R expression is established around postnatal day 5. By using pharmacological and mutational modulation of CB1R activity in isolated cultured rat hippocampal neurons, we also show that basal activation of CB1R acts as a negative regulatory signal for dendritogenesis, dendritic and axonal outgrowth, and branching. Together, the overall negative regulatory role in neurite development suggests that embryonic CB1R signaling may participate in the correct establishment of neuronal connectivity and suggests a possible mechanism for the development of reported glutamatergic dysfunction in the offspring following maternal cannabis consumption.

A dynamic formin-dependent deep F-actin network in axons

Low-light live imaging of F-actin–selective probes, quantitative tools, and super-resolution microscopy reveals a dynamic, formin-dependent deep F-actin cytoskeletal network in axons.

No Pasaran! Role of the axon initial segment in the regulation of protein transport and the maintenance of axonal identity

The transmission of information in the brain depends on the highly polarized architecture of neurons. A number of cellular transport processes support this organization, including active targeting of proteins and passive corralling between compartments. The axon initial segment (AIS), which separates the somatodendritic and axonal compartments, has a key role in neuronal physiology, as both the initiation site of action potentials and the gatekeeper of the axonal arborization. Over the years, the AIS main components and their interactions have been progressively unraveled, as well as their role in the AIS assembly and maintenance. Two mechanisms have been shown to contribute to the regulation of protein transport at the AIS: a surface diffusion barrier and an intracellular traffic filter. However, a molecular understanding of these processes is still lacking. In the view of recent results on the AIS cytoskeleton structure, we will discuss how a better knowledge of the AIS architecture can help understanding its role in the regulation of protein transport and the maintenance of axonal identity.

Voltage-gated sodium channel organization in neurons: Protein interactions and trafficking pathways

In neurons, voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels underlie the generation and propagation of the action potential. The proper targeting and concentration of Nav channels at the axon initial segment (AIS) and at the nodes of Ranvier are therefore vital for neuronal function. In AIS and nodes, Nav channels are part of specific supra-molecular complexes that include accessory proteins, adhesion proteins and cytoskeletal adaptors. Multiple approaches, from biochemical characterization of protein-protein interactions to functional studies using mutant mice, have addressed the mechanisms of Nav channel targeting to AIS and nodes. This review summarizes our current knowledge of both the intrinsic determinants and the role of partner proteins in Nav targeting. A few fundamental trafficking mechanisms, such as selective endocytosis and diffusion/retention, have been characterized. However, a lot of exciting questions are still open, such as the mechanism of differentiated Nav subtype localization and targeting, and the possible interplay between electrogenesis properties and Nav concentration at the AIS and the nodes.