Projects per year
Abstract
Synapsins are key components of the presynaptic neurotransmitter release machinery. Their main role is to cluster synaptic vesicles (SVs) to each other and anchor them to the actin cytoskeleton to establish the reserve vesicle pool, and then release them in response to appropriate membrane depolarization. Here we demonstrate that SUMOylation of synapsin Ia (SynIa) at K687 is necessary for SynIa function. Replacement of endogenous SynIa with a non-SUMOylatable mutant decreases the size of the releasable vesicle pool and impairs stimulated SV exocytosis. SUMOylation enhances SynIa association with SVs to promote the efficient reclustering of SynIa following neuronal stimulation and maintain its presynaptic localization. The A548T mutation in SynIa is strongly associated with autism and epilepsy and we show that it leads to defective SynIa SUMOylation. These results identify SUMOylation as a fundamental regulator of SynIa function and reveal a novel link between reduced SUMOylation of SynIa and neurological disorders.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 7728 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Nature Communications |
Volume | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2015 |
Keywords
- Biological sciences
- Cell biology
- Neuroscience
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'SUMOylation of synapsin Ia maintains synaptic vesicle availability and is reduced in an autism mutation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
-
Roles of protein SUMOylation in AMPA receptor trafficking, synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in dementia
1/03/14 → 30/06/18
Project: Research
-
Mechanisms and consequences of presynaptic protein SUMOylation in the regulation of neurotransmitter release
31/12/13 → 29/04/17
Project: Research
Profiles
-
Professor Jeremy M Henley
- Fundamental Bioscience
- School of Biochemistry - Professor of Molecular Neuroscience
- Dynamic Cell Biology
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member