Mapping the cell-surface proteome underlying hippocampal mossy fiber synapse identity
Synaptic diversity is a key feature of neural circuits. The structural and functional diversity of closely spaced inputs converging on the same neuron suggests that cell-surface interactions are essential in organizing input properties. Here, we analyzed the cell-surface protein (CSP) composition of hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) inputs on CA3 pyramidal neurons to identify regulators of MF-CA3 synapse properties. We uncover a rich cell-surface repertoire that includes adhesion proteins, guidance cue receptors, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and uncharacterized CSPs. Interactome screening reveals multiple ligand-receptor modules and identifies ECM protein Tenascin-R (TenR) as a ligand of the uncharacterized neuronal receptor IgSF8. Presynaptic Igsf8 deletion impairs MF-CA3 synaptic architecture and robustly decreases the density of bouton filopodia that provide feedforward inhibition of CA3 neurons. Consequently, loss of IgSF8 increases CA3 neuron excitability. Our findings identify IgSF8 as a regulator of CA3 microcircuit development and suggest that combinations of CSP modules define input identity.