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Gβγ acts at the C terminus of SNAP-25 to mediate presynaptic inhibition

Nature Neuroscience volume 8, pages 597–605 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Presynaptic inhibition mediated by G protein–coupled receptors may involve a direct interaction between G proteins and the vesicle fusion machinery. The molecular target of this pathway is unknown. We demonstrate that Gβγ-mediated presynaptic inhibition in lamprey central synapses occurs downstream from voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Using presynaptic microinjections of botulinum toxins (BoNTs) during paired recordings, we find that cleavage of synaptobrevin in unprimed vesicles leads to an eventual exhaustion of synaptic transmission but does not prevent Gβγ-mediated inhibition. In contrast, cleavage of the C-terminal nine amino acids of the 25 kDa synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP-25) by BoNT A prevents Gβγ-mediated inhibition. Moreover, a peptide containing the region of SNAP-25 cleaved by BoNT A blocks the Gβγ inhibitory effect. Finally, removal of the last nine amino acids of the C-terminus of SNAP-25 weakens Gβγ interactions with soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes. Thus, the C terminus of SNAP-25, which links synaptotagmin I to the SNARE complex, may represent a target of Gβγ for presynaptic inhibition.

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Figure 1: 5-HT inhibits synaptic release of glutamate at the giant synapse.
Figure 2: 5-HT acts downstream of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.
Figure 3: The effect of presynaptically applied BoNT B in the giant synapse.
Figure 4: BoNT B does not prevent 5-HT–mediated inhibition.
Figure 5: The effect of 5-HT is rapid.
Figure 6: 5-HT fails to inhibit BoNT A–altered synaptic release.
Figure 7: Presynaptic microinjection of a ct-SNAP-25 (the last 14 amino acids of the C-terminus of SNAP-25) selectively blocks 5-HT–mediated inhibition.
Figure 8: Gβγ binding to ternary SNARE containing SNAP-251–197 is weakened.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank T.F.J. Martin, J. Richmond, E. Schwartz, H. Photowala, R. Smetana and S. Ramakrishna for critical reading of the manuscript and/or discussions. Thanks to C. Malizio (Metabiologics, Inc.) for special preparation of BoNT A. The work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, The National Institute of Mental Health and the National Science Foundation to S.A. and the National Eye Institute to H.E.H.

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  1. Trillium Blackmer

    Present address: Oregon Hearing Research Center and the Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon, 97201, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 West Taylor, Chicago, 60607, Illinois, USA

    Tatyana Gerachshenko, Trillium Blackmer & Simon Alford

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 23rd Ave. South at Pierce, Nashville, 37232, Tennessee, USA

    Eun-Ja Yoon, Cheryl Bartleson & Heidi E Hamm

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Correspondence to Heidi E Hamm or Simon Alford.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Fig. 1

Model of 5-HT GPCR signaling depicts presynaptic and postsynaptic sites of the lamprey giant synapse. The 5-HT receptor signals through free Gβγ. Gβγ can access assembled SNARE complexes to inhibit synaptic transmission. Presynaptically applied BoNT/A and ct-SNAP-25 block this inhibition suggesting that Gβγ acts at the C-terminus of SNAP-25. (PDF 778 kb)

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Gerachshenko, T., Blackmer, T., Yoon, EJ. et al. Gβγ acts at the C terminus of SNAP-25 to mediate presynaptic inhibition. Nat Neurosci 8, 597–605 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1439

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