The netrin receptor UNC-40/DCC assembles a postsynaptic scaffold and sets the synaptic content of GABAA receptors

Nat Commun. 2020 May 29;11(1):2674. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16473-5.

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates that guidance molecules used during development for cellular and axonal navigation also play roles in synapse maturation and homeostasis. In C. elegans the netrin receptor UNC-40/DCC controls the growth of dendritic-like muscle cell extensions towards motoneurons and is required to recruit type A GABA receptors (GABAARs) at inhibitory neuromuscular junctions. Here we show that activation of UNC-40 assembles an intracellular synaptic scaffold by physically interacting with FRM-3, a FERM protein orthologous to FARP1/2. FRM-3 then recruits LIN-2, the ortholog of CASK, that binds the synaptic adhesion molecule NLG-1/Neuroligin and physically connects GABAARs to prepositioned NLG-1 clusters. These processes are orchestrated by the synaptic organizer CePunctin/MADD-4, which controls the localization of GABAARs by positioning NLG-1/neuroligin at synapses and regulates the synaptic content of GABAARs through the UNC-40-dependent intracellular scaffold. Since DCC is detected at GABA synapses in mammals, DCC might also tune inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axon Guidance / physiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism*
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Lin-2 protein, C elegans
  • MADD-4 protein, C elegans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • UNC-40 protein, C elegans
  • neuroligin 1