Biology subjects

Dolphin, A. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Dolphin, A. C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

T-type Ca2+ and persistent Na+ currents synergistically elevate ventral, not dorsal, entorhinal cortical stellate cell excitability

The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) plays a salient role in physiological processes such as spatial cognition and spatial coding. mEC layer II stellate neurons, in particular, influence these processes. Interestingly, ventral and dorsal stellate neurons diversely affect these processes and have distinct intrinsic membrane properties and action potential firing patterns. Little, though, is known about how ventral stellate neuron intrinsic excitability is regulated. We show that ventral stellate neurons predominantly possess T-type Ca2+ currents encoded by CaV3.2 subunits, with dorsal stellate neurons having small or no currents. Further, twice as much CaV3.2 mRNA was present in ventral than dorsal mEC. In line with T-type, CaV3.2 Ca2+ current biophysical properties, depolarising stimuli activated these currents in ventral, but not dorsal, neurons. Here, these currents acted in concert with persistent Na+ currents to elevate input resistance and tonic action potential firing. CaV3.2 currents also enhanced excitatory post-synaptic potential decay and integration solely in ventral neurons. These results reveal that CaV3.2 currents, together with persistent Na+ currents, impart the characteristic intrinsic membrane and firing properties of ventral stellate neurons. This signifies that specific voltage-gated conductances distinctly affect ventral and dorsal mEC stellate neuron activity and functions such as spatial memory and spatial navigation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Amino acid sensor conserved from bacteria to humans

Amino acids are recognized as signals by various receptors in bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. However, no common mechanism for amino acid recognition is currently known. Here we show that a subclass of a ubiquitous extracellular domain dCache_1 contains a simple amino acid recognition motif, and it is found throughout the Tree of Life. In bacteria, this motif exclusively binds amino acids, including GABA, and it is present in all major receptor types. In humans, this motif is found in 2{delta} subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels that are implicated in neuropathic pain and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our findings suggest that GABA-derived drugs bind to the same motif in human 2{delta} subunits that binds natural GABA ligands in bacterial chemoreceptors.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Identification that ADAM17 mediates proteolytic maturation of calcium channel auxiliary α2δ subunits, and enables calcium current enhancement

The auxiliary 2{delta} subunits of voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels are key to augmenting expression and function of CaV1 and CaV2 channels, and are also important drug targets in several therapeutic areas, including neuropathic pain. The 2{delta} proteins are translated as pre-proteins encoding both 2 and {delta}, and post-translationally proteolysed into 2 and {delta} subunits, which remain associated as a complex. In this study we have identified ADAM17 as a key protease involved in proteolytic processing of pro-2{delta}-1 and 2{delta}-3 subunits. We provide three lines of evidence: firstly, proteolytic cleavage is inhibited by chemical inhibitors of particular metalloproteases, including ADAM17. Secondly, proteolytic cleavage of both 2{delta}-1 and 2{delta}-3 is markedly reduced in cell lines by knockout of ADAM17 but not ADAM10. Thirdly, proteolytic cleavage is reduced by the N-terminal active domain of TIMP-3 (N-TIMP-3), which selectively inhibits ADAM17. We have found previously that proteolytic cleavage into mature 2{delta} is essential for the enhancement of CaV function, and in agreement, knockout of ADAM17 inhibited the ability of 2{delta}-1 to enhance both CaV2.2 and CaV1.2 calcium currents. Thus, our study identifies ADAM17 as a key protease required for proteolytic maturation of 2{delta}-1 and 2{delta}-3, and thus a potential drug target in neuropathic pain.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Rab11-dependent recycling of calcium channels is mediated by auxiliary subunit α2δ-1 but not α2δ-3

N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV2.2) are predominantly expressed at presynaptic terminals, and their function is regulated by auxiliary 2{delta} and {beta} subunits. All four mammalian 2{delta} subunits enhance calcium currents through CaV1 and CaV2 channels, and this increase is attributed, in part, to increased CaV expression at the plasma membrane. In the present study we provide evidence that 2{delta}-1, like 2{delta}-2, is recycled to the plasma membrane through a Rab11a-dependent endosomal recycling pathway. Using a dominant-negative Rab11a mutant, Rab11a(S25N), we show that 2{delta}-1 increases plasma membrane CaV2.2 expression by increasing the rate and extent of net forward CaV2.2 trafficking in a Rab11a-dependent manner. Dominant-negative Rab11a also reduces the ability of 2{delta}-1 to increase CaV2.2 expression on the cell-surface of hippocampal neurites. In contrast, 2{delta}-3 does not enhance rapid forward CaV2.2 trafficking, regardless of whether Rab11a(S25N) is present. In addition, whole-cell CaV2.2 currents are reduced by co-expression of Rab11a(S25N) in the presence of 2{delta}-1, but not 2{delta}-3. Taken together these data suggest that 2{delta} subtypes participate in distinct trafficking pathways which in turn influence the localisation and function of CaV2.2. Summary statementThe calcium channel auxiliary subunit 2{delta}-1 but not 2{delta}-3 participates in Rab11a-dependent recycling, which in turn influences the localisation and function of CaV2.2.

neuroscience↗