NCAM180 Regulates Ric8A Membrane Localization and Potentiates β-Adrenergic Response

Cooperation between receptors allows integrated intracellular signaling leading to appropriate physiological responses. The Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) has three main isoforms of 120, 140 and 180 kDa, with adhesive and signaling properties, but their respective functions remains to be fully identified. Here we show that the human NCAM180 intracellular domain is a novel interactor of the human guanosine exchange factor (GEF) Ric8A using the yeast two hybrid system and immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, NCAM, Ric8A and Gαs form a tripartite complex. Colocalization experiments by confocal microscopy revealed that human NCAM180 specifically induces the recruitment of Ric8A to the membrane. In addition, using an in vitro recombinant system, and in vivo by comparing NCAM knock-out mouse brain to NCAM heterozygous and wild type brains, we show that NCAM expression dose dependently regulates Ric8A redistribution in detergent resistent membrane microdomains (DRM). Previous studies have demonstrated essential roles for Ric8 in Gα protein activity at G protein coupled receptors (GPCR), during neurotransmitter release and for asymmetric cell division. We observed that inhibition of Ric8A by siRNA or its overexpression, decreases or increases respectively, cAMP production following β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. Furthermore, in human HEK293T recombinant cells, NCAM180 potentiates the Gαs coupled β-adrenergic receptor response, in a Ric8A dependent manner, whereas NCAM120 or NCAM140 do not. Finally, in mouse hippocampal neurons expressing endogenously NCAM, NCAM is required for the agonist isoproterenol to induce cAMP production, and this requirement depends on Ric8A. These data illustrate a functional crosstalk between a GPCR and an IgCAM in the nervous system

The 14-3-3ζ Protein Binds to the Cell Adhesion Molecule L1, Promotes L1 Phosphorylation by CKII and Influences L1-Dependent Neurite Outgrowth

BACKGROUND: The cell adhesion molecule L1 is crucial for mammalian nervous system development. L1 acts as a mediator of signaling events through its intracellular domain, which comprises a putative binding site for 14-3-3 proteins. These regulators of diverse cellular processes are abundant in the brain and preferentially expressed by neurons. In this study, we investigated whether L1 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins, how this interaction is mediated, and whether 14-3-3 proteins influence the function of L1. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that 14-3-3 proteins are associated with L1 in mouse brain. The site of 14-3-3 interaction in the L1 intracellular domain (L1ICD), which was identified by site-directed mutagenesis and direct binding assays, is phosphorylated by casein kinase II (CKII), and CKII phosphorylation of the L1ICD enhances binding of the 14-3-3 zeta isoform (14-3-3ζ). Interestingly, in an in vitro phosphorylation assay, 14-3-3ζ promoted CKII-dependent phosphorylation of the L1ICD. Given that L1 phosphorylation by CKII has been implicated in L1-triggered axonal elongation, we investigated the influence of 14-3-3ζ on L1-dependent neurite outgrowth. We found that expression of a mutated form of 14-3-3ζ, which impairs interactions of 14-3-3ζ with its binding partners, stimulated neurite elongation from cultured rat hippocampal neurons, supporting a functional connection between L1 and 14-3-3ζ. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that 14-3-3ζ, a novel direct binding partner of the L1ICD, promotes L1 phosphorylation by CKII in the central nervous system, and regulates neurite outgrowth, an important biological process triggered by L1

Synaptic Cell Adhesion Molecules in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder associated with the loss of synapses between neurons in the brain. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules are cell surface glycoproteins which are expressed at the synaptic plasma membranes of neurons. These proteins play key roles in formation and maintenance of synapses and regulation of synaptic plasticity. Genetic studies and biochemical analysis of the human brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and sera from AD patients indicate that levels and function of synaptic cell adhesion molecules are affected in AD. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules interact with Aβ, a peptide accumulating in AD brains, which affects their expression and synaptic localization. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules also regulate the production of Aβ via interaction with the key enzymes involved in Aβ formation. Aβ-dependent changes in synaptic adhesion affect the function and integrity of synapses suggesting that alterations in synaptic adhesion play key roles in the disruption of neuronal networks in AD

Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily Regulate Synapse Formation, Maintenance, and Function

Immunoglobulin superfamily adhesion molecules are among the most abundant proteins in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. Prominent family members are the neural cell adhesion molecules NCAM and L1, which were the first to be shown to be essential not only in development but also in synaptic function and as key regulators of synapse formation, synaptic activity, plasticity, and synaptic vesicle recycling at distinct developmental and activity stages. In addition to interacting with each other, adhesion molecules interact with ion channels and cytokine and neurotransmitter receptors. Mutations in their genes are linked to neurological disorders associated with abnormal development and synaptic functioning. This review presents an overview of recent studies on these molecules and their crucial impact on neurological disorders

Cellular form of prion protein inhibits Reelin-mediated shedding of Caspr from the neuronal cell surface to potentiate Caspr-mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth

Extension of axonal and dendritic processes in the CNS is tightly regulated by outgrowth-promoting and -inhibitory cues to assure precision of synaptic connections. We identify a novel role for contactin-associated protein (Caspr) as an inhibitory cue that reduces neurite outgrowth from CNS neurons. We show that proteolysis of Caspr at the cell surface is regulated by the cellular form of prion protein (PrP), which directly binds to Caspr. PrP inhibits Reelin-mediated shedding of Caspr from the cell surface, thereby increasing surface levels of Caspr and potentiating the inhibitory effect of Caspr on neurite outgrowth. PrP deficiency results in reduced levels of Caspr at the cell surface, enhanced neurite outgrowth in vitro, and more efficient regeneration of axons in vivo following spinal cord injury. Thus, we reveal a previously unrecognized role for Caspr and PrP in inhibitory modulation of neurite outgrowth in CNS neurons, which is counterbalanced by the proteolytic activity of Reelin

Transfer learning‐trained convolutional neural networks identify novel MRI biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease progression

Introduction: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for late onset Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) may miss genetic variants relevant for delineating disease stages when using clinically defined case/control as a phenotype due to its loose definition and heterogeneity. Methods: We use a transfer learning technique to train three-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) models based on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the screening stage in the Alzheimer\u27s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative consortium to derive image features that reflect AD progression. Results: CNN-derived image phenotypes are significantly associated with fasting metabolites related to early lipid metabolic changes as well as insulin resistance and with genetic variants mapped to candidate genes enriched for amyloid beta degradation, tau phosphorylation, calcium ion binding-dependent synaptic loss, Discussion: This is the first attempt to show that non-invasive MRI biomarkers are linked to AD progression characteristics, reinforcing their use in early AD diagnosis and monitoring

IL-1β impairs retrograde flow of BDNF signaling by attenuating endosome trafficking

BACKGROUND: Pro-inflammatory cytokines accumulate in the brain with age and Alzheimer’s disease and can impair neuron health and cognitive function. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key neurotrophin that supports neuron health, function, and synaptic plasticity. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) impairs BDNF signaling but whether it affects BDNF signaling endosome trafficking has not been studied. METHODS: This study uses an in vitro approach in primary hippocampal neurons to evaluate the effect of IL-1β on BDNF signaling endosome trafficking. Neurons were cultured in microfluidic chambers that separate the environments of the cell body and its axon terminal, enabling us to specifically treat in axon compartments and trace vesicle trafficking in real-time. RESULTS: We found that IL-1β attenuates BDNF signaling endosomes throughout networks in cultures. In IL-1β-treated cells, overall BDNF endosomal density was decreased, and the colocalization of BDNF endosomes with presynaptic terminals was found to be more than two times higher than in control cultures. Selective IL-1β treatment to the presynaptic compartment in microfluidic chamber attenuated BDNF endosome flux, as measured by reduced BDNF-GFP endosome counts in the somal compartment. Further, IL-1β decreased the BDNF-induced phosphorylation of Erk5, a known BDNF retrograde trafficking target. Mechanistically, the deficiency in trafficking was not due to impaired endocytosis of the BDNF-TrkB complex, or impaired transport rate, since BDNF endosomes traveled at the same rate in both control and IL-1β treatment groups. Among the regulators of presynaptic endosome sorting is the post-translational modification, ubiquitination. In support of this possibility, the IL-1β-mediated suppression of BDNF-induced Erk5 phosphorylation can be rescued by exogenous ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), a deubiquitinating enzyme that regulates ubiquitin and endosomal trafficking. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a state of neurotrophic resistance whereby, in the prolonged presence of IL-1β, BDNF is not effective in delivering long-distance signaling via the retrograde transport of signaling endosomes. Since IL-1β accumulation is an invariant feature across many neurodegenerative diseases, our study suggest that compromised BDNF retrograde transport-dependent signaling may have important implications in neurodegenerative diseases