Regulated lysosomal trafficking as a mechanism for regulating GABAA receptor abundance at synapses in Caenorhabditis elegans.
GABA(A) receptor plasticity is important for both normal brain function and disease progression. We are studying GABA(A) receptor plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans using a genetic approach. Acute exposure of worms to the GABA(A) agonist muscimol hyperpolarizes postsynaptic cells, causing paralysis. Worms adapt after several hours, but show uncoordinated locomotion consistent with decreased GABA signaling. Using patch-clamp and immunofluorescence approaches, we show that GABA(A) receptors are selectively removed from synapses during adaptation. Subunit mRNA levels were unchanged, suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism. Mutants with defective lysosome function (cup-5) show elevated GABA(A) receptor levels at synapses prior to muscimol exposure. During adaptation, these receptors are removed more slowly, and accumulate in intracellular organelles positive for the late endosome marker GFP-RAB-7. These findings suggest that chronic agonist exposure increases endocytosis and lysosomal trafficking of GABA(A) receptors, leading to reduced levels of synaptic GABA(A) receptors and reduced postsynaptic GABA sensitivity.
Davis
Kathleen M
KM
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 W Bancroft St. Toledo, OH 43606, USA.
Sturt
Brianne L
BL
Friedmann
Andrew J
AJ
Richmond
Janet E
JE
Bessereau
Jean-Louis
JL
Grant
Barth D
BD
Bamber
Bruce A
BA
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins
C426649:CUP-5 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018755:GABA Agonists; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000090802:rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins; D009118:Muscimol; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins