A novel Netrin-1-sensitive mechanism promotes local SNARE-mediated exocytosis during axon branching

J Cell Biol. 2014 Apr 28;205(2):217-32. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201311003.

Abstract

Developmental axon branching dramatically increases synaptic capacity and neuronal surface area. Netrin-1 promotes branching and synaptogenesis, but the mechanism by which Netrin-1 stimulates plasma membrane expansion is unknown. We demonstrate that SNARE-mediated exocytosis is a prerequisite for axon branching and identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM9 as a critical catalytic link between Netrin-1 and exocytic SNARE machinery in murine cortical neurons. TRIM9 ligase activity promotes SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion and axon branching in a Netrin-dependent manner. We identified a direct interaction between TRIM9 and the Netrin-1 receptor DCC as well as a Netrin-1-sensitive interaction between TRIM9 and the SNARE component SNAP25. The interaction with SNAP25 negatively regulates SNARE-mediated exocytosis and axon branching in the absence of Netrin-1. Deletion of TRIM9 elevated exocytosis in vitro and increased axon branching in vitro and in vivo. Our data provide a novel model for the spatial regulation of axon branching by Netrin-1, in which localized plasma membrane expansion occurs via TRIM9-dependent regulation of SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Exocytosis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Netrin-1
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / genetics
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / metabolism*
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • NTN1 protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Ntn1 protein, mouse
  • SNAP25 protein, human
  • Snap25 protein, mouse
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Netrin-1
  • TRIM9 protein, human
  • Trim9 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases