The C(2)B Ca(2+)-binding motif of synaptotagmin is required for synaptic transmission in vivo.
Synaptotagmin is a synaptic vesicle protein that is postulated to be the Ca(2+) sensor for fast, evoked neurotransmitter release. Deleting the gene for synaptotagmin (syt(null)) strongly suppresses synaptic transmission in every species examined, showing that synaptotagmin is central in the synaptic vesicle cycle. The cytoplasmic region of synaptotagmin contains two C(2) domains, C(2)A and C(2)B. Five, highly conserved, acidic residues in both the C(2)A and C(2)B domains of synaptotagmin coordinate the binding of Ca(2+) ions, and biochemical studies have characterized several in vitro Ca(2+)-dependent interactions between synaptotagmin and other nerve terminal molecules. But there has been no direct evidence that any of the Ca(2+)-binding sites within synaptotagmin are required in vivo. Here we show that mutating two of the Ca(2+)-binding aspartate residues in the C(2)B domain (D(416,418)N in Drosophila) decreased evoked transmitter release by >95%, and decreased the apparent Ca(2+) affinity of evoked transmitter release. These studies show that the Ca(2+)-binding motif of the C(2)B domain of synaptotagmin is essential for synaptic transmission.
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Neuroscience, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
J M
JM
Mackler
J A
JA
Drummond
C A
CA
Loewen
I M
IM
Robinson
N E
NE
Reist
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D050857:Synaptotagmins
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008081:Liposomes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D050857:Synaptotagmins; D002118:Calcium