Françoise Coussen

Distinct Subunits in Heteromeric Kainate Receptors Mediate Ionotropic and Metabotropic Function at Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses

Heteromeric kainate receptors (KARs) containing both glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) and KA2 subunits are involved in KAR-mediated EPSCs at mossy fiber synapses in CA3 pyramidal cells. We report that endogenous glutamate, by activating KARs, reversibly inhibits the slow Ca2+-activated K+ current IsAHP and increases neuronal excitability through a G-protein-coupled mechanism. Using KAR knockout mice, we show that KA2 is essential for the inhibition of IsAHP in CA3 pyramidal cells by low nanomolar concentrations of kainate, in addition to GluR6. In GluR6–/– mice, both ionotropic synaptic transmission and inhibition of IsAHP by endogenous glutamate released from mossy fibers was lost. In contrast, inhibition of IsAHP was absent in KA2–/– mice despite the preservation of KAR-mediated EPSCs. These data indicate that the metabotropic action of KARs did not rely on the activation of a KAR-mediated inward current. Biochemical analysis of knock-out mice revealed that KA2 was required for the interaction of KARs with Gαq/11-proteins known to be involved in IsAHP modulation. Finally, the ionotropic and metabotropic actions of KARs at mossy fiber synapses were differentially sensitive to the competitive glutamate receptor ligands kainate (5 nm) and kynurenate (1 mm). We propose a model in which KARs could operate in two modes at mossy fiber synapses: through a direct ionotropic action of GluR6, and through an indirect G-protein-coupled mechanism requiring the binding of glutamate to KA2.

GluR7 is an essential subunit of presynaptic kainate autoreceptors at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses

Presynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors are emerging as key players in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Here we identify GluR7, a kainate receptor (KAR) subunit with no known function in the brain, as an essential subunit of presynaptic autoreceptors that facilitate hippocampal mossy fiber synaptic transmission. GluR7−/− mice display markedly reduced short- and long-term synaptic potentiation. Our data suggest that presynaptic KARs are GluR6/GluR7 heteromers that coassemble and are localized within synapses. We show that recombinant GluR6/GluR7 KARs exhibit low sensitivity to glutamate, and we provide evidence that presynaptic KARs at mossy fiber synapses are likely activated by high concentrations of glutamate. Overall, from our data, we propose a model whereby presynaptic KARs are localized in the presynaptic active zone close to release sites, display low affinity for glutamate, are likely Ca2+-permeable, are activated by single release events, and operate within a short time window to facilitate the subsequent release of glutamate.

Subunit composition and alternative splicing regulate membrane delivery of kainate receptors.

Kainate receptors (KARs) are heteromeric ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) that play various roles in the regulation of synaptic transmission. The KAR subunits GluR5 and GluR6 exist under different splice variant isoforms in the C-terminal domain (GluR5a, GluR5b, GluR5c, GluR6a, GluR6b). The differential role of KAR subunit splice variants is presently unknown. In transfected COS-7 cells and neurons from wild-type and GluR5 × GluR6 mice, we have found that the subcellular localization and membrane delivery differed between these splice variants. GluR6a was highly expressed at the plasma membrane. GluR6b, GluR5a, and GluR5b were detected at lower levels in the plasma membrane and mainly colocalized with calreticulin in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). GluR5c was strongly retained in the ER by an RXR motif. GluR6a acted as a key subunit splice variant promoting surface expression of ER-retained subunit splice variants when assembled in heteromeric KARs. Surface expression of GluR6a was independent of its PDZ (postsynaptic density-95/discs large/zona occludens-1) binding motif and was promoted by a stretch of four basic amino acid residues at its C terminus. Overall, splice variants and subunit composition of KARs regulate receptor trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane.

Coassembly of Two GluR6 Kainate Receptor Splice Variants within a Functional Protein Complex

Kainate receptors (KAR) are composed of several distinct subunits and splice variants, but the functional relevance of this diversity remains largely unclear. Here we show that two splice variants of the GluR6 subunit, GluR6a and GluR6b, which differ in their C-terminal domains, do not show distinct functional properties, but coassemble as heteromers in vitro and in vivo. Using a proteomic approach combining affinity purification and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, we found that GluR6a and GluR6b interact with two distinct subsets of cytosolic proteins mainly involved in Ca(2+) regulation of channel function and intracellular trafficking. Guided by these results, we provide evidence that the regulation of native KAR function by NMDA receptors depends on the heteromerization of GluR6a and GluR6b and interaction of calcineurin with GluR6b. Thus, GluR6a and GluR6b bring in close proximity two separate subsets of interacting proteins that contribute to the fine regulation of KAR trafficking and function.

Glutamate-Induced AMPA Receptor Desensitization Increases Their Mobility and Modulates Short-Term Plasticity through Unbinding from Stargazin

Short-term plasticity of AMPAR currents during high-frequency stimulation depends not only on presynaptic transmitter release and postsynaptic AMPAR recovery from desensitization, but also on fast AMPAR diffusion. How AMPAR diffusion within the synapse regulates synaptic transmission on the millisecond scale remains mysterious. Using single-molecule tracking, we found that, upon glutamate binding, synaptic AMPAR diffuse faster. Using AMPAR stabilized in different conformational states by point mutations and pharmacology, we show that desensitized receptors bind less stargazin and are less stabilized at the synapse than receptors in opened or closed-resting states. AMPAR mobility-mediated regulation of short-term plasticity is abrogated when the glutamate-dependent loss in AMPAR-stargazin interaction is prevented. We propose that transition from the activated to the desensitized state leads to partial loss in AMPAR-stargazin interaction that increases AMPAR mobility and allows faster recovery from desensitization-mediated synaptic depression, without affecting the overall nano-organization of AMPAR in synapses.

A γ2(R43Q) Mutation, Linked to Epilepsy in Humans, Alters GABAA Receptor Assembly and Modifies Subunit Composition on the Cell Surface

Genetic defects leading to epilepsy have been identified in γ2 GABAA receptor subunit. A γ2(R43Q) substitution is linked to childhood absence epilepsy and febrile seizure, and a γ2(K289M) mutation is associated with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. To understand the effect of these mutations, surface targeting of GABAA receptors was analyzed by subunit-specific immunofluorescent labeling of living cells. We first transfected hippocampal neurons in culture with recombinant γ2 constructs and showed that the γ 2(R43Q) mutation prevented surface expression of the subunit, unlike γ2(K289M) substitution. Several γ2-subunit constructs, bearing point mutations within the Arg-43 domain, were expressed in COS-7 cells with α3- and β3-subunits. R43Q and R43A substitutions dramatically reduced surface expression of the γ2-subunit, whereas R43K, P44A, and D39A substitutions had a lesser, but still significant, impact and K289M substitution had no effect. Whereas the mutant γ2(R43Q) was retained within intracellular compartments, αβ complexes were still targeted at the cell membrane. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that γ2(R43Q) was able to associate with α3- or β3-subunits, although the stoichiometry of the complex with α3 was altered. Our data show that γ2(R43Q) is not a dominant negative and that the mutation leads to a modification of GABAA receptor subunit composition on the cell surface that impairs the synaptic targeting in neurons. This study reveals an involvement of the γ2-Arg-43 domain in the control of receptor assembly that may be relevant to the effect of the heterozygous γ2(R43Q) mutation leading to childhood absence epilepsy and febrile seizure.

Regulation of AMPA receptor surface trafficking and synaptic plasticity by a cognitive enhancer and antidepressant molecule

The plasticity of excitatory synapses is an essential brain process involved in cognitive functions, and dysfunctions of such adaptations have been linked to psychiatric disorders such as depression. Although the intracellular cascades that are altered in models of depression and stress-related disorders have been under considerable scrutiny, the molecular interplay between antidepressants and glutamatergic signaling remains elusive. Using a combination of electrophysiological and single nanoparticle tracking approaches, we here report that the cognitive enhancer and antidepressant tianeptine (S 1574, [3-chloro-6-methyl-5,5-dioxo-6,11-dihydro-(c,f)-dibenzo-(1,2-thiazepine)-11-yl) amino]-7 heptanoic acid, sodium salt) favors synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons both under basal conditions and after acute stress. Strikingly, tianeptine rapidly reduces the surface diffusion of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) through a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-dependent mechanism that enhances the binding of AMPAR auxiliary subunit stargazin with PSD-95. This prevents corticosterone-induced AMPAR surface dispersal and restores long-term potentiation of acutely stressed mice. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence that a therapeutically used drug targets the surface diffusion of AMPAR through a CaMKII–stargazin–PSD-95 pathway, to promote long-term synaptic plasticity.

KRIP6: A novel BTB/kelch protein regulating function of kainate receptors

Whereas many interacting proteins have been identified for AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors, fewer are known to directly bind and regulate function of kainate receptors. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen for interacting partners of the C-terminal domain of GluR6a, we identified a novel neuronal protein of the BTB/kelch family, KRIP6. KRIP6 binds to the GluR6a C-terminal domain at a site distinct from the PDZ-binding motif and it co-immunoprecipitates with recombinant and endogenous GluR6. Co-expression of KRIP6 alters GluR6 mediated currents in a heterologous expression system reducing peak current amplitude and steady-state desensitization, without affecting surface levels of GluR6. Endogenous KRIP6 is widely expressed in brain and overexpression of KRIP6 reduces endogenous kainate receptor-mediated responses evoked in hippocampal neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that KRIP6 can directly regulate native kainate receptors and provide the first evidence for a BTB/kelch protein in direct functional regulation of a mammalian glutamate receptor.

Differential trafficking of GluR7 kainate receptor subunit splice variants

Kainate receptors (KARs) are heteromeric ionotropic glutamate receptors that play a variety of roles in the regulation of synaptic network activity. The function of glutamate receptors (GluRs) is highly dependent on their surface density in specific neuronal domains. Alternative splicing is known to regulate surface expression of GluR5 and GluR6 subunits. The KAR subunit GluR7 exists under different splice variant isoforms in the C-terminal domain (GluR7a and GluR7b). Here we have studied the trafficking of GluR7 splice variants in cultured hippocampal neurons from wild-type and KAR mutant mice. We have found that alternative splicing regulates surface expression of GluR7-containing KARs. GluR7a and GluR7b differentially traffic from the ER to the plasma membrane. GluR7a is highly expressed at the plasma membrane, and its trafficking is dependent on a stretch of positively charged amino acids also found in GluR6a. In contrast, GluR7b is detected at the plasma membrane at a low level and retained mostly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The RXR motif of GluR7b does not act as an ER retention motif, at variance with other receptors and ion channels, but might be involved during the assembly process. Like GluR6a, GluR7a promotes surface expression of ER-retained subunit splice variants when assembled in heteromeric KARs. However, our results also suggest that this positive regulation of KAR trafficking is limited by the ability of different combinations of subunits to form heteromeric receptor assemblies. These data further define the complex rules that govern membrane delivery and subcellular distribution of KARs.

CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of GluK5 mediates plasticity of kainate receptors

Calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is key for long‐term potentiation of synaptic AMPA receptors. Whether CaMKII is involved in activity‐dependent plasticity of other ionotropic glutamate receptors is unknown. We show that repeated pairing of pre‐ and postsynaptic stimulation at hippocampal mossy fibre synapses induces long‐term depression of kainate receptor (KAR)‐mediated responses, which depends on Ca2+ influx, activation of CaMKII, and on the GluK5 subunit of KARs. CaMKII phosphorylation of three residues in the C‐terminal domain of GluK5 subunit markedly increases lateral mobility of KARs, possibly by decreasing the binding of GluK5 to PSD‐95. CaMKII activation also promotes surface expression of KARs at extrasynaptic sites, but concomitantly decreases its synaptic content. Using a molecular replacement strategy, we demonstrate that the direct phosphorylation of GluK5 by CaMKII is necessary for KAR‐LTD. We propose that CaMKII‐dependent phosphorylation of GluK5 is responsible for synaptic depression by untrapping of KARs from the PSD and increased diffusion away from synaptic sites.