Myosin phosphatase and RhoA-activated kinase modulate neurotransmitter release by regulating SNAP-25 of SNARE complex

PLoS One. 2017 May 9;12(5):e0177046. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177046. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Reversible phosphorylation of neuronal proteins plays an important role in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Myosin phosphatase holoenzyme (MP) consists of a protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) catalytic subunit (PP1c) and a regulatory subunit, termed myosin phosphatase targeting subunit (MYPT1). The primary function of MP is to regulate the phosphorylation level of contractile proteins; however, recent studies have shown that MP is localized to neurons, and is also involved in the mediation of neuronal processes. Our goal was to investigate the effect of RhoA-activated kinase (ROK) and MP on the phosphorylation of one potential neuronal substrate, the synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). SNAP-25 is a member of the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex, along with synaptobrevin and syntaxin, and the primary role of SNAP25 is to mediate vesicle fusion. We showed that MYPT1 interacts with SNAP-25, as revealed by immunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance based binding studies. Mass spectrometry analysis and in vitro phosphorylation/dephosphorylation assays demonstrated that ROK phosphorylates, while MP dephosphorylates, SNAP-25 at Thr138. Silencing MYPT1 in B50 neuroblastoma cells increased phosphorylation of SNAP-25 at Thr138. Inhibition of PP1 with tautomycetin increased, whereas inhibition of ROK by H1152, decreased the phosphorylation of SNAP-25 at Thr138 in B50 cells, in cortical synaptosomes, and in brain slices. In response to the transduction of the MP inhibitor, kinase-enhanced PP1 inhibitor (KEPI), into synaptosomes, an increase in phosphorylation of SNAP-25 and a decrease in the extent of neurotransmitter release were detected. The interaction between SNAP-25 and syntaxin increased with decreasing phosphorylation of SNAP-25 at Thr138, upon inhibition of ROK. Our data suggest that ROK/MP play a crucial role in vesicle trafficking, fusion, and neurotransmitter release by oppositely regulating the phosphorylation of SNAP-25 at Thr138.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase / metabolism*
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / metabolism*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.