Diversity of synaptic protein complexes as a function of the abundance of their constituent proteins: A modeling approach

PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 Jan 18;18(1):e1009758. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009758. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Abstract

The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a dense protein network playing a key role in information processing during learning and memory, and is also indicated in a number of neurological disorders. Efforts to characterize its detailed molecular organization are encumbered by the large variability of the abundance of its constituent proteins both spatially, in different brain areas, and temporally, during development, circadian rhythm, and also in response to various stimuli. In this study we ran large-scale stochastic simulations of protein binding events to predict the presence and distribution of PSD complexes. We simulated the interactions of seven major PSD proteins (NMDAR, AMPAR, PSD-95, SynGAP, GKAP, Shank3, Homer1) based on previously published, experimentally determined protein abundance data from 22 different brain areas and 42 patients (altogether 524 different simulations). Our results demonstrate that the relative ratio of the emerging protein complexes can be sensitive to even subtle changes in protein abundances and thus explicit simulations are invaluable to understand the relationships between protein availability and complex formation. Our observations are compatible with a scenario where larger supercomplexes are formed from available smaller binary and ternary associations of PSD proteins. Specifically, Homer1 and Shank3 self-association reactions substantially promote the emergence of very large protein complexes. The described simulations represent a first approximation to assess PSD complex abundance, and as such, use significant simplifications. Therefore, their direct biological relevance might be limited but we believe that the major qualitative findings can contribute to the understanding of the molecular features of the postsynapse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins* / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins* / metabolism
  • Post-Synaptic Density* / metabolism
  • Post-Synaptic Density* / physiology
  • Synapses* / chemistry
  • Synapses* / metabolism

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • postsynaptic density proteins

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge the support of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office – NKFIH through grant no. NN124363 (to Z.G.) and through the Thematic Excellence Programme (TKP2020-NKA-11). The research was funded by the European Union and co-financed by the European Social Fund under grant number EFOP-3.6.2-162017-00013. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.