Reduced SNAP-25 increases PSD-95 mobility and impairs spine morphogenesis

Cell Death Differ. 2015 Sep;22(9):1425-36. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2014.227. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

Abstract

Impairment of synaptic function can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders collectively referred to as synaptopathies. The SNARE protein SNAP-25 is implicated in several brain pathologies and, indeed, brain areas of psychiatric patients often display reduced SNAP-25 expression. It has been recently found that acute downregulation of SNAP-25 in brain slices impairs long-term potentiation; however, the processes through which this occurs are still poorly defined. We show that in vivo acute downregulation of SNAP-25 in CA1 hippocampal region affects spine number. Consistently, hippocampal neurons from SNAP-25 heterozygous mice show reduced densities of dendritic spines and defective PSD-95 dynamics. Finally, we show that, in brain, SNAP-25 is part of a molecular complex including PSD-95 and p140Cap, with p140Cap being capable to bind to both SNAP-25 and PSD-95. These data demonstrate an unexpected role of SNAP-25 in controlling PSD-95 clustering and open the possibility that genetic reductions of the protein levels - as occurring in schizophrenia - may contribute to the pathology through an effect on postsynaptic function and plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Spines / physiology*
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Guanylate Kinases / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Morphogenesis
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • DLG4 protein, human
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dlg4 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • SNAP25 protein, human
  • Snap25 protein, mouse
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Guanylate Kinases