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The Journal of Neuroscience, August 1, 2002, 22(15):6426-6436

Recruitment of the Kainate Receptor Subunit Glutamate Receptor 6 by Cadherin/Catenin Complexes

Françoise Coussen1, Elisabeth Normand1, Cécile Marchal1, Pierre Costet2, Daniel Choquet1, Mireille Lambert3, René-Marc Mège3, and Christophe Mulle1

1 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5091, Institut François Magendie and 2 Laboratoire de Transgénèse Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux 33077, France, and 3 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U440, Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris 75005, France


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Kainate receptors modulate synaptic transmission by acting either at presynaptic or at postsynaptic sites. The precise localization of kainate receptors as well as the mechanisms of targeting and stabilization of these receptors in neurons are largely unknown. We have generated transgenic mice expressing the kainate receptor subunit glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) bearing an extracellular myc epitope (myc-GluR6), in forebrain neurons, in which it assembles with endogenous kainate receptor subunits. In transgenic mice crossed with GluR6-deficient mice, myc-GluR6 efficiently rescues the missing subunit. Immunoprecipitation of transgenic brain extracts with anti-myc antibodies demonstrates an interaction with cadherins, beta -catenin, and p120 catenin, as well as with the associated proteins calcium calmodulin-dependent serine kinase and Velis, but not with alpha -catenin. In glutathione S-transferase-pulldown experiments, beta -catenin interacts, although indirectly, with the last 14 aa of GluR6. Transfected myc-GluR6 colocalizes with beta -catenin at cell-cell junctions in non-neuronal cells. Finally, activation of N-cadherins by ligand-covered latex beads recruits GluR6 to cadherin/catenin complexes. These results suggest an important role for cadherin/catenin complexes in the stabilization of kainate receptors at the synaptic membrane during synapse formation and remodeling.

Key words: kainate receptors; cadherin/catenin complexes; transgenic mice; synaptic organization; protein-protein interactions; CASK/Veli complexes


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Kainate receptors (KARs) display a large variety of physiological functions in synaptic transmission and in its regulation. Based on electrophysiological studies, KARs are thought to be in part localized presynaptically on axons or axon terminals, where they modulate transmitter release or axonal excitability. KARs also participate in synaptic transmission at a postsynaptic level (for review, see Chittajalu et al., 1999; Lerma et al., 2001), although KAR-mediated EPSCs display unexpected kinetic properties (Castillo et al., 1997; Vignes and Collingridge, 1997; Mulle et al., 1998; Bureau et al., 2000). The differences in synaptic properties between AMPA receptor (AMPAR)- and KAR-EPSCs could be explained by a different localization of both types of receptors. Hypothetically, KARs would be located at a further distance from glutamate release sites than AMPARs (Castillo et al., 1997; Bureau et al., 2000) in a perisynaptic region and would then be activated by a low, nonsaturating concentration of glutamate, explaining both the slow kinetics and summation properties. Although AMPA and NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are known to be concentrated in the postsynaptic density (PSD), precise data on the subcellular localization of KARs are lacking. The molecular mechanisms by which AMPA and NMDA receptors are targeted and stabilized in the PSD (Sheng and Pak, 2000) involve protein-protein interactions between the C-terminal domain of AMPA and NMDA receptors and PSD-95/discs-large/zona occludens-1 (PDZ) domain proteins found in the PSD (for review, see Sheng and Pak, 2000). AMPA and NMDA receptors bind to distinct sets of PDZ domain proteins. This difference probably accounts for the differential synaptic regulation of AMPA and NMDA receptors. In addition, binding of glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2) to N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, a protein involved in vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion, is involved in the recycling of AMPARs (Nishimune et al., 1998; Osten et al., 1998). In neurons, distinct subtypes of glutamate receptors are thus segregated both topographically and functionally through interactions with different protein complexes.

Little is known about the interactions between KARs and intracellular proteins and even less about their targeting and stabilization in specific subdomains of the neuronal membrane. The subunit composition of KARs, which are thought to assemble in a tetrameric stoichiometry, could be very diverse, given the large combinatorial possibilities suggested by KAR subunit mRNA distribution (Wisden and Seeburg, 1993; Bischoff et al., 1997) and functional expression studies (for review, see Bettler and Mulle, 1995; Chittajalu et al., 1999; Lerma et al., 2001). It is not known how this large variety of subunit combinations relates to the distinct subcellular localizations of KARs. GluR6 and KA2 interact with PSD-95 and synapse-associated protein 102, PDZ domain proteins from the PSD, both in vivo and in vitro (Garcia et al., 1998; Mehta et al., 2001), promoting clustering of KARs in heterologous expression systems. These data suggest the presence of GluR6/KA2 KARs in the PSD. Based on electrophysiological analysis of GluR6-deficient mice, it is known however that GluR6-containing receptors are present at a presynaptic level (Contractor et al., 2000; Mulle et al., 2000) as well as at a postsynaptic level (Mulle et al., 1998; Bureau et al., 2000). It is likely that localization and stabilization of GluR6-containing KARs in distinct subdomains of the neuronal membrane require specific interaction with distinct sets of proteins.

The postsynaptic membrane facing the transmitter release zone is bordered by a perisynaptic region enriched in cadherin/catenin adhesion proteins, as shown by immunogold electron microscopic studies (Uchida et al., 1996). Because this region hypothetically contains synaptically activated KARs, we examined the possibility that KARs could interact with cadherin/catenin complexes. Cadherins are a family of homophilic cell-adhesion receptors that are crucial for intercellular association of most cell types (Takeichi, 1988; Shapiro and Colman, 1999; Bruses, 2000; Tepass et al., 2000). Cadherins associate with intracellular actin filaments via proteins termed catenins. Although cadherins form a large family of proteins, beta -catenin binds directly to the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of all known "classical" cadherins. Here, we demonstrate that KARs interact with proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex. These data open the possibility that during synapse formation and synaptic plasticity, activation of cadherins recruits GluR6 KAR to cadherin/catenin complexes.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Generation and maintenance of transgenic mice. Six consecutive c-myc epitopes were introduced after the signal sequence of rat GluR6 cDNA. The total six myc-GluR6 construct was inserted in front of the Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKIIalpha ) promoter (8.5 kb) (vectors pNN-265 and pMM-403; gifts from I. Mansuy, Neuroscience Center, Zürich, Switzerland) (Mayford et al., 1996). Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection of the linear construct into fertilized eggs collected from C57BL/6/CBA F1/J superovulated females mated with C57BL/6/CBA F1 males. Six transgenic founders were obtained and crossed with C57BL/6 mice to produce the CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 transgenic lines. Myc-GluR6 transgenic mice were crossed with GluR6-/- (Mulle et al., 1998) mice to produce the CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 × GluR6-/- transgenic line.

Immunocytochemistry. Cultured rat hippocampal neurons were prepared from 18-d-old rat embryos according to previously published methods (Hemar et al., 1997) and used after 12 d in culture. COS-7 and human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells were transfected with the various cDNAs using the Fugene kit (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France) and hippocampal neurons with the Effecten kit (Qiagen, Courtaboeuf, France). For surface labeling of myc-GluR6, cells were incubated for 20 min at 20°C with anti-myc tag antibodies (1/100th dilution) in culture media and immediately fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and 4% sucrose for 15 min at 37°C. For intracellular labeling, cells were fixed, permeabilized with 0.3% Triton X-100 for 2 min, and rinsed in PBS/0.3% BSA. Primary antibodies were incubated for 30 min at room temperature and washed with PBS/BSA, and the secondary fluorescent antibodies (anti-mouse antibody, Alexa 568; anti-rabbit antibody, Alexa 488) were incubated for 30 min at 20°C and extensively washed with PBS/BSA. Coverslips were then mounted with a Prolong antifade kit from Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR). Pictures were taken with an Axioplan2 microscope (Zeiss, Le Pecq, France).

Electrophysiology. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of CA3 pyramidal cells and stimulation of mossy fibers were performed in parasagittal brain slices (350 µm thick) from mice aged 17-20 d as described previously (Mulle et al., 1998).

Preparation of brain lysate. For each experiment, three mouse brains were homogenized in 15 ml of homogenization buffer, which contained (in mM): 20 HEPES, 0.15 EDTA, and 10 KCl, pH 7.5, supplemented with a cocktail of protease inhibitors (aprotinin, leupeptin, pepstatin-A, and pefabloc, 10 µg/ml), and centrifuged for 10 min at 2500 rpm. The supernatant was centrifuged for 30 min at 13,000 rpm. The pellet was homogenized with 20 strokes in 15 ml of the same buffer adjusted at 15% sucrose. The homogenate was centrifuged for 10 min at 2500 rpm to remove genomic DNA. The supernatant containing the membranes was centrifuged again for 30 min at 13,000 rpm. Brain membranes were solubilized in a medium containing 20 mM HEPES, 1% Triton X-100, 150 mM NaCl, and 0.15 mM EDTA, pH 7.5, and an antiprotease cocktail with 20 dunces and then incubated for 1 hr. The sample was centrifuged for 45 min at 13,000 rpm. All steps were performed at 4°C. Protein concentration was evaluated with a Bio-Rad (Richmond, CA) assay.

Immunoprecipitation experiments. Triton X-100 supernatant (1.5 ml) was incubated with 50 µl of protein-G Sepharose for 40 min at 4°C and centrifuged. The cleared supernatant was then incubated with the specific antibodies (3 µl) for 1 hr at 4°C and then incubated overnight with 50 µl of protein-G Sepharose at 4°C. Resin was washed with 2 ml of loading buffer and 2 ml of the same buffer containing 500 mM NaCl. Beads were resuspended in 60 µl of gel loading buffer, separated by 7.5% SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with the appropriate antibodies. Quantitative analysis of Western blots was performed using Metamorph software (Universal imaging, Dawnington, PA).

Glutathione S-transferase-pulldown assay. cDNA sequences encoding the rat C-terminal GluR6 subunit (starting at the amino acid 838) were amplified by PCR from the original clone using primers that generated BamHI and EcoRI restriction sites at their ends. These PCR products were then subcloned in pGex-4T-1 (Amersham Biosciences, Les Ulis, France). Proteins were induced by 0.2 mM isopropyl-beta -D-thiogalactopyranoside at 20°C for 1 hr. After extraction, proteins were bound on glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Sepharose. The amount of bound proteins was estimated by Coomassie blue staining and by immunoblot with anti-GluR6 antibody when possible.

Triton X-100 brain extracts (1.5 ml) were incubated with 10 µg of GST, GST-R6-CDelta 14, GST-R6-CDelta 4, or GST-R6-Ctotal immobilized on GST-Sepharose. Beads were washed with 2 ml of loading buffer and 2 ml of the same buffer containing 500 mM NaCl. Beads were resuspended in 60 µl of loading buffer, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with the appropriate antibodies.

For direct binding assay, PSD-95 protein (PDZ domain 1-2; amino acids 1-309) was expressed in bacteria, purified on glutathione-Sepharose beads, and cut with thrombin overnight at 4°C. Mal-beta -catenin was produced in Escherichia coli and extracted with Triton X-100. Mal-beta -catenin was incubated with GST-N-cadherin (Ncad) intracellular domain, GST-R6-C-terminal domain, or GST-R6-CDelta 14 resins. As a positive control, PSD-95 protein was incubated with GST-R6-C-terminal domain resin. Proteins were incubated with the different GST proteins for 2 hr at room temperature, washed for immunoprecipitation experiments, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with the appropriate antibodies.

Ncad-Fc experiments. Ncad-Fc protein production and bead preparation were performed as in Lambert et al. (2000) using Ncad-Fc protein or anti-myc antibody. For bead cell-adhesion assay, C2 cells were seeded at a density of 8000 cells/cm2 on a three well glass slide and cultured for 24 hr. One microliter of sonicated beads was added to each well in 250 ml of DMEM and 10% FCS and placed in the incubator (5% CO2, 37°C) for 45 min. After washes, cells were fixed with 3% formaldehyde in PBS, washed with PBS and 0.1 M glycine, permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS for 5 min, and submitted for antibody revelation.

Antibodies. The following antibodies were used: monoclonal anti-myc (clone 9E10; Roche Diagnostics); polyclonal anti-myc (06-549), anti-GluR6/7 (06-309), anti-KA2 (06-315), and anti-PSD-95 family (05-427) (Upstate Biotechnology, Lake Placid, NY); anti-beta -catenin (C-2206), anti-alpha -catenin (C-2081), and anti-pan-cadherin (C-1821) (Sigma, St. Quentin Fallavier, France); CASK [monoclonal antibody (mAb) 5230] and anti-GluR2 (mAb 397) (Chemicon, Temecula, CA); anti-Veli (V20920; Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, KY); anti-GST (27-4577-01; Amersham Biosciences); anti-synaptophysin (MON 9013; Monosan, Uden, The Netherlands); and anti-p120 catenin (made by R. M. Mège).


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Generation of transgenic mice expressing epitope-tagged myc-GluR6

Intracellular proteins interacting with AMPA or NMDA receptors have in general been identified by yeast-two-hybrid screening techniques using the intracellular C terminal as a bait. This technique has not yet been fruitful in the case of KARs. To begin exploration of proteins involved in the stabilization and trafficking of KARs, we have attempted to directly assess interaction of GluR6-containing receptors with identified proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex using immunoprecipitation experiments on solubilized brain membranes. Antibodies available for GluR6-containing KARs are directed against the intracellular C terminal of the protein, raising the possibility that interaction of the antibody with its epitope disrupts interaction of GluR6 with intracellular partners. To circumvent this difficulty, we have produced transgenic mice expressing the GluR6 subunit with an epitope tag at its extracellular N-terminal domain.

We have inserted six myc epitopes within the GluR6 N-terminal sequence after the signal peptide (myc-GluR6). We have first checked that myc-GluR6 was functional by heterologous expression in HEK-293 cells (Fig. 1A). In electrophysiological experiments, application of kainate (20 µM) in the presence of Con A to cells transfected with myc-GluR6 consistently evoked an inward current. We then verified that the placement of the epitope tag in the extracellular domain made it available for antibody staining under living conditions. In transfected COS-7 cells and rat hippocampal neurons in primary cultures, anti-myc antibodies labeled surface-expressed myc-GluR6 receptors, which appeared as puncta (Fig. 1B). We then generated transgenic mice expressing myc-GluR6 subunit under the control of the promoter of the CaMKIIalpha (Fig. 1C). This promoter has been widely used because it confers specific expression of the transgene in postnatal forebrain neurons (Mayford et al., 1996) and is of great interest for our study because a large proportion of forebrain neurons in the striatum, the neocortex, or the hippocampus endogenously express the GluR6 subunit (Wisden and Seeburg, 1993; Bischoff et al., 1997). In six transgenic mouse lines, the myc-GluR6 protein was detected by Western blotting with an anti-myc antibody in brain extracts from the neocortex, the striatum, and the hippocampus (Fig. 1D). Myc-GluR6 was not detected in the cerebellum, another brain region in which the endogenous GluR6 subunit is highly expressed, confirming the forebrain-specific expression of the transgene under the control of the CaMKIIalpha promoter. Differing genomic integration positions generated mouse lines with a variable pattern of expression of the transgene, as illustrated in Figure 1D. In some mouse lines, myc-GluR6 was evenly expressed in the hippocampus, the neocortex, and the striatum (for instance, transgenic line 28), whereas in others, myc-GluR6 was more abundant in a particular brain region (neocortex for line 23, hippocampus for line 26). The relative amount of myc-GluR6 compared with endogenous GluR6 could be evaluated by taking advantage of the difference in molecular weight between the two proteins, because of the presence of the six myc fragments (11 kDa) (Fig. 1D). Myc-GluR6 represents ~10-20% of the endogenous protein. The following experiments were performed on line 28. 



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  		Figure 1.   Characterization of myc-GluR6 cDNA and transgenic mice. A, Functional expression of myc-GluR6 in HEK-293 cells. Cells were transiently transfected with myc-GluR6 cDNA. Whole-cell currents recorded in response to application of kainate (20 µM) in the presence of Con A are shown. Holding current, -70 mV. B, Surface expression of myc-GluR6 transiently transfected in COS-7 cells and cultured hippocampal neurons revealed with an anti-myc antibody. C, Schematic drawing of myc-GluR6 transgene construct. D, Expression of myc-GluR6 in selected brain regions for three transgenic mice families. Brain membrane extracts (15 µg) were analyzed in immunoblots probed with anti-myc (top) or anti-GluR6/7 (bottom) antibodies. Myc-GluR6 is differentially expressed in forebrain regions (hippocampus, striatum, and neocortex), but no expression is detected in the cerebellum. In wild-type mice (WT; right lane), no band is detected with the anti-myc antibody. Arrows indicate molecular weight markers.

Association of transgenic myc-GluR6 with endogenous subunits and rescue of GluR6-null mutation in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neuron

KARs are heteromeric proteins with a tetrameric stoichiometry. GluR6 and KA2 subunits can associate to form native KARs in neurons. Thus, we examined whether the transgenic myc-GluR6 subunit combined in vivo with the endogenous GluR6 and KA2 subunits (Wenthold et al., 1994). KARs were immunoprecipitated from transgenic mouse brain extracts with either an anti-myc, anti-GluR6/7, or anti-KA2 antibody and were probed with the antibodies specific for each subunit (Fig. 2A). No signal was detected in control immunoprecipitation experiments from wild-type mouse brain extracts using an anti-myc antibody or from transgenic mouse brain extracts using an unrelated antibody. The totality of receptors was solubilized and immunoprecipitated with each of the antibodies (data not shown). In transgenic mice, GluR6 and KA2 subunits were immunoprecipitated with the anti-myc antibody, and myc-GluR6 was immunoprecipitated with the anti-GluR6/7 or the anti-KA2 antibody. This result indicates that the transgenic myc-GluR6 subunit participates in the heteromeric assembly of native KARs. It also shows that myc-GluR6 is, at least in part, expressed in neurons that endogenously express GluR6 and KA2. Finally, the AMPAR subunit GluR2 does not coimmunoprecipitate with myc-GluR6, indicating that these two types of receptors do not take part in the same glutamate receptor complex (Fig. 2B). In additional experiments, we also find that neither NR1 nor GluR1 are immunoprecipitated from transgenic mouse brain extracts with the anti-myc antibody (data not shown).



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  		Figure 2.   Myc-GluR6 is associated with endogenous KAR subunits. A, Coimmunoprecipitation of myc-GluR6 with endogenous GluR6 and KA2 subunits. Triton X-100 brain extracts from transgenic mice were immunoprecipitated (IP) with anti-myc, anti-GluR6, or anti-KA2 antibodies. Immunoblot analysis was performed with the three antibodies. Control experiments (right lanes): immunoprecipitation of transgenic mouse brain extracts with an unrelated IgG (anti-GST antibody); immunoprecipitation of wild-type (WT) mouse brain extracts with an anti-myc antibody. B, Myc-GluR6 is not associated with GluR2 AMPA receptor subunit. Triton X-100 brain extracts from transgenic mice were immunoprecipitated with anti-myc or anti-GluR2 antibodies, and both proteins were analyzed by Western blot. C, Rescue of KAR-mediated synaptic currents in GluR6-/- mice by the myc-GluR6 transgene. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of CA3 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices in the presence of antagonists of GABAA and NMDA receptors (10 µM bicuculline and 25 µM D-AP-5) are shown. Synaptic currents were evoked by a train of stimulations to mossy fibers. Blockade of AMPA receptors by the noncompetitive antagonist GYKI53655 revealed a slow synaptic component of small amplitude mediated by GluR6-containing KARs. The trace in the presence of GYKI was amplified 10-fold. The slow synaptic currents are not detected in GluR6-/- mice and are rescued in GluR6-/- mice mated with myc-GluR6 transgenic mice. Holding current, -70 mV. Calibration: 50 msec, 100 pA (except for wild type, 400 pA).

We subsequently tested whether myc-GluR6-containing receptors were functional and properly inserted in the synaptic membrane of neurons in transgenic mice. For this purpose, we mated CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 transgenic mice with GluR6-deficient mice (Mulle et al., 1998). The best described example of KARs activated by synaptic release of glutamate is the mossy fiber to CA3 pyramidal cell synapse (Castillo et al., 1997; Vignes and Collingridge, 1997). In hippocampal slices taken from wild-type mice, single and repetitive stimulations of mossy fibers evoke glutamatergic synaptic currents largely mediated by AMPARs in CA3 pyramidal neurons. In the presence of GYKI53655, a selective AMPAR antagonist, synaptic currents of small amplitude and slow kinetics are observed (Fig. 2C). These synaptic currents are blocked by CNQX, a nonselective antagonist of AMPARs and KARs, and are abolished in GluR6-/- mice (Fig. 2C) (Mulle et al., 1998), indicating that they are mediated by GluR6-containing KARs. Expression of the myc-GluR6 transgene in GluR6-/- mice restores KAR-mediated synaptic currents in CA3 pyramidal cells (Fig. 2C). We measured the amplitude of KAR-EPSCs in response to a train of five stimulations as a percentage of the amplitude of AMPA EPSCs for the same stimulations. The relative amplitude was 7.5 ± 1.5% (n = 8) for wild-type mice and 3.5 ± 1.5% (n = 4) for GluR6-/- × CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 mice. Expression of the myc-GluR6 transgene also rescues inward currents activated by bath application of kainate in the presence of GYKI53655 in CA3 pyramidal cells, in CA1 pyramidal cells, and in striatal neurons (data not shown). These data demonstrate that the transgenic myc-GluR6 subunit can functionally complement for the GluR6-null mutation. Together, CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 mice provide a good experimental model in the search of proteins associated with GluR6.

GluR6 interacts with proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex

We considered the possibility that KARs interact with proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex, which are known to be specifically expressed at the periphery of the postsynaptic density (Uchida et al., 1996), where KARs could be hypothetically localized. We first attempted to directly examine the subcellular localization of the myc-GluR6 protein, but the anti-myc antibody did not appear suitable for immunogold electron microscopy localization. We have thus used a biochemical approach to test for an interaction of GluR6 with proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex. Cadherins form a large family of adhesion proteins with highly variable expression depending on the type of synapses (Shapiro and Colman, 1999), but all classical cadherins directly bind to beta -catenin (Jou et al., 1995). The anti-myc precipitate of transgenic brain extracts was probed with antibodies directed at proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex (Fig. 3). We found that a large fraction of beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitated with myc-GluR6 (Fig. 3A) in all mouse lines tested. Interestingly, the amount of beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitated with anti-GluR6/7 was only 2.5 ± 0.2% (n = 3) of the amount immunoprecipitated with anti-myc (Fig. 3B). A possible explanation for this difference is that the anti-GluR6/7 antibody is directed against the last 14 aa and can thus interfere with GluR6/beta -catenin interaction. The amount of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated with anti-KA2 was significantly higher (16 ± 4% of the amount immunoprecipitated with anti-myc; n = 3). The relative amount of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated with the anti-myc antibody for an equivalent sample of proteins was variable depending on the different brain regions examined (Fig. 3C). The amount of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated from the cortex and from the striatum was 46 ± 3 and 32 ± 5%, respectively (n = 4), compared with the amount immunoprecipitated from the hippocampus for the same amount of total GluR6 (GluR6 plus myc-GluR6) loaded on the gel. The transgenic protein myc-GluR6 was immunoprecipitated with an anti-beta -catenin antibody, however, with low efficiency (Fig. 3D). The reason for this low efficiency may be linked to the fact that beta -catenin/myc-GluR6 interaction only represents a small fraction (7 ± 1%; n = 6) of the interactions between beta -catenin and other brain protein complexes. p120 catenin and cadherins were also immunoprecipitated with the anti-myc antibody, but we were unable to detect these proteins using anti-GluR6/7 or anti-KA2 antibodies (Fig. 3E). In contrast, no alpha -catenin could be detected in the anti-myc immunoprecipitate (Fig. 3F), whereas alpha -catenin takes part in the cadherin/catenin complex (Fig. 3F). To further document a possible interaction of beta -catenin with GluR6 in neurons, we also transfected cultured hippocampal neurons with myc-GluR6 and compared the relative distribution of GluR6-containing KARs with endogenous beta -catenin. N-cadherin and beta -catenin cluster at synapses between neurons in culture (Benson and Tanaka, 1998). We found that 24 hr after transfection, myc-GluR6 was present as puncta partly colocalized with beta -catenin and with the synaptic protein synaptophysin (Fig. 4).



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  		Figure 3.   beta -catenin associates with myc-GluR6. A, Coimmunoprecipitation of beta -catenin and myc-GluR6. Brain extracts from transgenic or wild-type (WT; right lane) mouse brains (input, 1% of total brain extract) and anti-myc (20%), and anti-beta -catenin (5%) immunoprecipitates (IP) were loaded on SDS-PAGE and probed with an anti-beta -catenin antibody. B, Immunoprecipitation of beta -catenin with antiglutamate receptor antibodies. The immunoprecipitate was immunoblotted with an anti-beta -catenin antibody. The amount of beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitated with anti-GluR6 or anti-KA2 antibodies represents, respectively, 2.5 and 16% of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated with the anti-myc antibody. C, The amount of beta -catenin associated with myc-GluR6 depends on the brain structure analyzed. Triton X-100 brain extracts (1.5 ml) from selected forebrain regions were immunoprecipitated with anti-myc antibodies and immunoblotted with anti-beta -catenin antibody (10% of the immunoprecipitate fractions). Numbers correspond to the fractions of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated for a same amount of total GluR6 loaded on the gel (GluR6 plus myc-GluR6) relative to the maximum amount of beta -catenin immunoprecipitated in the corresponding experiment (IP myc lane for B and Hippocampus lane for C). D, Immunoprecipitation of myc-GluR6 with anti beta -catenin antibodies. E, Immunoprecipitation of p120 catenin and cadherin with anti-myc antibodies but not with anti-GluR6 or anti-KA2 antibodies. F, alpha -Catenin was not immunoprecipitated with an anti-myc antibody. For each immunoprecipitation (D-F), Triton X-100 brain extracts (1.5 ml) were incubated with the corresponding antibodies and submitted to immunoprecipitation. Input: 1% of the total brain extract was loaded; when the same antibody was used for immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, 5% of the sample was loaded; when a different antibody was used for immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, 20% of the sample was loaded. IB, Antibody used for immunoblotting.



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  		Figure 4.   Myc-GluR6 colocalizes with endogenous beta -catenin and synaptophysin in transfected hippocampal neurons. Myc-GluR6 was transfected in cultured hippocampal neurons at 12 d in vitro. One day later, neurons were labeled in vivo (20 min at 20°C) with an anti-myc antibody, fixed, permeabilized, and then labeled for beta -catenin (top panels) or synaptophysin (bottom panels). Labeling for anti-myc antibody is shown in red, and labeling for anti-beta -catenin or anti-synaptophysin antibodies is shown in green. Arrows indicate colocalization between the two proteins. Scale bars are indicated. The boxed areas from the top panels are enlarged at the bottom of the figures.

GluR6 interacts with Velis/LIN-7 and CASK/LIN-2 complexes

CASK/LIN-2 is a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family concentrated at synapses and binds to neurexin and syndecan (Hata et al., 1996). It is a member of a tripartite cytoplasmic complex also composed of Mint/LIN-10 and Velis/LIN-7 (Butz et al., 1998), which associates with adhesion molecules as well as with receptors (Jo et al., 1999) and transporters for neurotransmitters (Perego et al., 1999). Velis/LIN-7 proteins form a complex with cadherin and beta -catenin in epithelia and neurons (Perego et al., 2000). This association relocates Velis/LIN-7 to beta -catenin- containing junctional domains. Thus, we considered the possibility that GluR6 also interacts with proteins of this complex. As reported previously (Perego et al., 2000), we found that Velis, CASK, and beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitated from mouse brain extracts (Fig. 5A). In transgenic mouse brain extracts, the anti-myc antibody immunoprecipitated Velis (Fig. 5B) and CASK (Fig. 5C). Conversely, myc-GluR6 was immunoprecipitated by an anti-Veli and an anti-CASK antibody (Fig. 5D). Control immunoprecipitation experiments from wild-type mouse brain extracts using an anti-myc antibody or from transgenic mouse brain extracts using an unrelated antibody gave no signal. These experiments indicate that GluR6 can take part in a large protein complex linking the cadherin/beta -catenin adhesion complex with the cytoplasmic CASK/Velis/Mint complex.



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  		Figure 5.   CASK and Velis associate with myc-GluR6. A, Coimmunoprecipitation of CASK with beta -catenin and Velis. Triton X-100 brain extracts (1.5 ml) were incubated with the corresponding antibodies, and 20% of the immunoprecipitate (IP) samples were immunoblotted with an anti-CASK antibody. Right lane, Control experiment using an unrelated IgG (anti-GST antibody). B, Coimmunoprecipitation of Velis and myc-GluR6. C, Coimmunoprecipitation of CASK and myc-GluR6. D, Coimmunoprecipitation of myc-GluR6 by anti-Veli and anti-CASK antibodies. B-D, In the input lane, 1% of the total brain extract was loaded; when the same antibody was used for immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, 5% of the sample was loaded; when a different antibody was used for immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, 25% of the sample was loaded. B, C, Right lane corresponds to a control immunoprecipitation on wild-type (WT) brain extracts using an anti-myc antibody. IB, Antibody used for immunoblotting.

The last amino acids of GluR6 are necessary for the interaction with beta -catenin and CASK

To obtain more direct evidence for an interaction between GluR6, beta -catenin, and CASK and to define by which protein domain of GluR6 these interactions occur, we have generated GST fusion proteins representing the entire intracellular C-terminal domain of GluR6 (R6Ctotal) or C-terminal domains truncated of 4 (R6CDelta 4) and 14 (R6CDelta 14) aa. Triton X-100 solubilized extracts from mouse brains were incubated with each of the GST-R6Cterm fusion proteins immobilized on beads. After extensive washing, the beads were immunoblotted for the presence of beta -catenin, CASK, or PSD-95. As already reported, the full C-terminal domain of GluR6 binds to PSD-95 by an interaction with the last 4 aa (ETMA) (Garcia et al., 1998) (Fig. 6A). Identical results were obtained with CASK, which strongly binds to the last 4 aa of GluR6 (Fig. 6B). The last 4 aa of the C-terminal domain are also involved in the interaction of beta -catenin with GluR6 (Fig. 6C). A low-intensity band is still observed with the R6CDelta 4 construct. No binding is detected with the R6CDelta 14 construct or with GST alone for any of the proteins tested. The residual binding of beta -catenin to R6CDelta 4 construct underlines a difference in the mechanism of interaction of beta -catenin to the cytoplasmic domain of GluR6, compared with PSD-95 or CASK. Finally, there is no homophilic interaction between GluR6 C-terminal domains (Fig. 6D). We subsequently tested whether the interaction of beta -catenin with the cytoplasmic domain of GluR6 was a direct interaction using E. coli-expressed beta -catenin in GST-pulldown experiments (Fig. 6E). In these experiments, beta -catenin directly binds to the cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin but does not bind to the cytoplasmic domain of GluR6. In control experiments, PDZ domains 1 and 2 of PSD-95 directly bind to the C-terminal domain of GluR6, as reported previously (Garcia et al., 1998).



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  		Figure 6.   C-terminal domain of GluR6 is necessary for beta -catenin and CASK binding. A-C, GST-pulldown of PSD-95, CASK, and beta -catenin. Brain supernatant was submitted for binding to GST and GST proteins fused to total GluR6 C terminal (R6Ctotal) and to GluR6 deleted of the last 4 (R6C Delta 4) or 14 (R6C Delta 14) aa. Twenty percent of the samples were immunoblotted and probed for PSD-95 (A), CASK (B), beta -catenin (C), and myc-GluR6 (D). E, Indirect binding of beta -catenin to the C-terminal domain of GluR6. beta -catenin expressed in bacteria was submitted for binding to the GST-cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin (N-Cad), GST-GluR6 total C terminal, and GST-GluR6Delta 14. As a control, PSD-95 (PDZ domain 1-2) expressed in bacteria was submitted for binding to GST-GluR6 total C terminal. SDS gels were submitted for blotting with GST, beta -catenin, or PSD-family antibodies as indicated. IB, Antibody used for immunoblotting.

Interactions of GluR6 with beta -catenin in a non-neuronal cell line

In neurons, multiple synaptic proteins, such as PSD-95 or CASK, might provide a link between GluR6 and the cadherin/catenin complex. If neuron-specific proteins are necessary links for an interaction between GluR6 and the cadherin/catenin adhesion complex, this interaction should not be observed in non-neuronal cells. Thus, we examined whether beta -catenin, a ubiquitous protein expressed in most cell types, interacted with recombinant GluR6 expressed in non-neuronal cell lines. COS-7 cells were transfected with myc-GluR6 or myc-GluR6Delta 14 cDNA, and detergent-solubilized membrane was immunoprecipitated with an anti-myc antibody and immunoblotted for beta -catenin (Fig. 7A). We found that endogenous beta -catenin interacts with GluR6 in COS-7 cells (Fig. 7A). These cells lack detectable amounts of PSD-95 or CASK (data not shown), indicating that interaction of GluR6 with beta -catenin is not indirectly mediated by binding to PSD-95 or to CASK. As already reported in COS-7 cells transfected with PSD-95, GluR6 binds to PSD-95 (Garcia et al., 1998) (Fig. 7A). PSD-95 and beta -catenin are not immunoprecipitated in COS-7 cells transfected with a mutant form of GluR6 lacking the last 14 aa (GluR6Delta 14). Interestingly, overexpression of PSD-95 results in a decrease in the amount of beta -catenin bound to myc-GluR6 (by a factor of 3; n = 4). This result is consistent with the finding that beta -catenin and PSD-95 bind to the same site on the GluR6 subunit. It also suggests a possible competition between PSD-95 and beta -catenin for an interaction with GluR6, which can be relevant to the distribution of GluR6 in distinct synaptic membrane subdomains. We subsequently compared the subcellular localization of beta -catenin and myc-GluR6 in COS-7 cells. Immunofluorescent staining of myc-GluR6 in live COS-7 cells indicates that GluR6 receptors are concentrated at the edge of the cell, in cell-cell membrane junctions (Fig. 7B). The distribution of GluR6 largely overlaps the distribution of endogenous beta -catenin in these cellular domains. The coexpression of PSD-95 with myc-GluR6 in COS-7 cells decreases the localization of GluR6 at cell-cell junctions (Fig. 7B). GluR6Delta 14 transfected in COS-7 cells can also be detected using the extracellular anti-myc antibody on live cells (Fig. 7B), indicating that the lack of interaction with PSD-95 or beta -catenin is not caused by a mistargeting of GluR6Delta 14 to the plasma membrane. At variance with full-length GluR6, GluR6Delta 14 is uniformly distributed at the cell surface and does not overlap with beta -catenin at cell-cell junctions.



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  		Figure 7.   Endogenous beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitates and colocalizes with myc-GluR6 in transfected COS-7 cells. Myc-GluR6 or myc-GluR6Delta 14 were transfected with or without PSD-95 in COS-7 cells. After 1 d, cells were extracted, and Triton X-100 supernatants were immunoprecipitated with an anti-myc antibody. A, Immunoprecipitates (IP) were immunoblotted with anti-myc, anti-PSD-95, or anti-beta -catenin antibodies. Endogenous beta -catenin coimmunoprecipitates with myc-GluR6 in transfected COS-7 cells. B, Immunocytochemistry of COS-7 cells transfected with myc-GluR6, myc-GluR6Delta 14, or myc-GluR6 plus PSD-95 with an anti-myc antibody (surface labeling) and an anti-beta -catenin antibody (intracellular labeling). Myc-GluR6, but not myc-GluR6Delta 14, colocalizes with beta -catenin at cell-cell junctions. Expression of PSD-95 decreases localization of myc-GluR6 at the junction of the cells.

Redistribution of GluR6 follows reorganization of cadherin/catenin complex in conditions mimicking cadherin-mediated cell contact formation

During establishment of cell-cell contacts, for instance during synapse formation and maturation, a complex regulation of cadherin-mediated adhesion occurs, leading to the remodeling of cadherin-cadherin and cadherin-cytoskeleton interaction. A model was developed to mimic and control the formation of cadherin-mediated cell-cell contacts (Lambert et al., 2000). In this model, latex beads covered with the extracellular domain of N-cadherin bind to cells expressing N-cadherin and induce the recruitment of N-cadherin, beta -catenin, alpha -catenin, and p120 catenin under the beads, as well as the reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Thus, we examined whether activation of the cadherin/catenin complex induced a reorganization of GluR6. Recombinant chimeric protein Ncad-Fc comprising the chicken N-cadherin extracellular domain fused to the Fc fragment of the mouse IgG2b was produced and purified from HEK-293 cells and was immobilized on 6 µm latex beads (Lambert et al., 2000). These beads bind in a Ca2+-dependent manner to N-cadherin-expressing cells, such as C2 mouse myogenic cells. We transfected C2 cells with myc-GluR6 or with myc-GluR6Delta 14. As in COS-7 cells, both receptors were expressed at the cell surface, as evidenced by live antibody staining, followed by immunofluorescent detection, and myc-GluR6 was found to be highly concentrated at cell-cell contacts (data not shown). Beads coated with an anti-myc antibody or with the Ncad-Fc protein were allowed to bind to myc-GluR6-transfected C2 cells. As already reported, strong accumulations of N-cadherin and beta -catenin were detected at the sites of contact between the coated beads and the cell surface (Lambert et al., 2000). We found that activation of the cadherin/catenin complex by the N-cadherin-coated beads resulted in a strong accumulation of myc-GluR6 at the sites of bead-C2 cell contact (Fig. 8A). This redistribution of myc-GluR6 was not observed in cells transfected with myc-GluR6Delta 14 (Fig. 8B). Binding of anti-myc-coated beads to C2 cells induced antibody-mediated recruitment of myc-GluR6 (Fig. 8C) but did not result in the redistribution of N-cadherin and beta -catenin (Fig. 8D). These results indicate that myc-GluR6 surface receptors redistribute after reorganization of the cadherin/catenin complex, mimicking the establishment of cell-cell contacts and suggesting an important role for cadherin/beta -catenin complexes in the stabilization of GluR6 KARs at the synaptic membrane.



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  		Figure 8.   Myc-GluR6 redistribution follows the distribution of beta -catenin. C2 cells were transfected with myc-GluR6 (A, C, D) or myc-GluR6Delta 14 (B). Twenty-four hours later, Ncad-Fc- (A, B) or anti-myc- (C, D) coated beads were incubated with cells for 45 min. Cells were fixed, permeabilized, and probed with anti-myc tag or anti-beta -catenin antibodies. Activation of cadherin induces recruitment of myc-GluR6 under the bead (A). There is no recruitment of myc-GluR6Delta 14 by Ncad-Fc-coated beads (B). Anti-myc antibody-coated beads induce a strong recruitment of myc-GluR6 at the bead-cell contact (C). However, recruitment of myc-GluR6 is not followed by recruitment of beta -catenin under the beads (D).


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

In this study, we demonstrate that GluR6 interacts both in vivo and in vitro with the protein beta -catenin, an intracellular partner of all classical cadherins, as well as with CASK, a PDZ domain protein. In an experimental model mimicking establishment of cell-cell contacts, we show that activation of N-cadherins induces a redistribution of GluR6, which parallels the reorganization of the cadherin/catenin complex.

In contrast to AMPA and NMDA receptors, little is known about proteins that interact with KAR subunits and how KARs are addressed and stabilized in the synaptic membrane. As a first step in understanding these mechanisms, we have generated transgenic mice expressing an epitope-tagged GluR6 subunit under the control of the CaMKIIalpha subunit promoter. This promoter was chosen because it is known to drive expression of the transgene to postnatal forebrain neurons (Mayford et al., 1996). The GluR6 subunit is expressed at a high level in various forebrain neurons and in the neocortex, the striatum, and the hippocampus (Wisden and Seeburg, 1993; Bischoff et al., 1997; Bureau et al., 1999). A comparative analysis of wild type and GluR6-/- has demonstrated the presence of presynaptic and postsynaptic GluR6-containing KARs in these brain areas (Mulle et al., 1998, 2000; Bureau et al., 1999; Chergui et al., 2000; Contractor et al., 2000). We have obtained mouse lines with different patterns of expression of the myc-GluR6 transgene in the neocortex, the striatum, and the hippocampus. Immunocytochemical experiments to detect the subcellular localization of myc-GluR6 using an anti-myc antibody have been unsuccessful. However, in search of proteins interacting with GluR6, we have performed coimmunoprecipitation experiments, taking advantage of the myc epitope inserted at the extracellular N-terminal end of the GluR6 subunit. In previous studies, anti-GluR6/7 antibodies used were directed to the C-terminal domain of GluR6 (Garcia et al., 1998). We reasoned that such antibodies might impede on protein-protein interactions with C-terminal intracellular domains. We first verified that myc-GluR6 was functional and properly targeted in vivo. For this purpose, we have mated myc-GluR6 transgenic mice with GluR6-/- mice and found that myc-GluR6 efficiently replaced the missing GluR6 subunit in the hippocampus: myc-GluR6 was properly inserted in the synaptic membrane of CA3 pyramidal cells, as judged by the recovery of KAR-mediated synaptic currents in CaMKIIalpha -myc-GluR6 × GluR6-/- mice. In addition, immunoprecipitation experiments clearly indicate an association of myc-GluR6 with endogenous GluR6 and KA2 subunits, indicating that myc-GluR6 is present in neurons endogenously expressing GluR6 and KA2, and that it takes part in the heteromeric KAR combination. Finally, as already reported for endogenous GluR6-containing KARs, myc-GluR6 interacts with PSD-95. We found, however, that the AMPAR subunit GluR2 and myc-GluR6 do not coimmunoprecipitate, indicating that AMPARs and KARs take part in distinct protein complexes, as already suggested by large-scale analysis of the NMDA receptor complex (Husi et al., 2000).

Electrophysiological analysis of KAR-mediated EPSCs has lent support to the hypothesis that KARs could be located in a perisynaptic subdomain (Bureau et al., 2000). In synaptic junctions, the cell-cell adhesion proteins cadherins, together with their intracellular partners catenins, are concentrated in an "adhesion belt" surrounding the synaptic active zone (Fannon and Colman, 1996; Uchida et al., 1996; Bruses, 2000), a region where synaptic KARs could be concentrated. Thus, we have explored whether GluR6 interacts with proteins of the cadherin/catenin complex. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments from transgenic mouse forebrains have demonstrated a strong interaction between myc-GluR6 and beta -catenin. Myc-GluR6 also interacts with cadherins and p120 catenin, an intracellular partner of cadherins, but not with alpha -catenin. Consistent with this result, N-cadherin and beta -catenin, but not alpha -catenin, are present in large NMDAR multiprotein complexes, which are also immunopositive for GluR6/7 (Husi et al., 2000). Using the same anti-GluR6/7 antibody, which is directed at the intracellular C-terminal domain, beta -catenin was hardly immunoprecipitated from mouse brain extracts. Thus, binding of GluR6/7 antibody to GluR6 C-terminal domain impedes interactions of GluR6 with beta -catenin but not with PSD-95 (Garcia et al., 1998). CASK/LIN-2, a MAGUK protein concentrated at synapses (Hata et al., 1996), also coimmunoprecipitates with GluR6. CASK/LIN-2 takes part in a tripartite cytoplasmic complex, which might link cell-adhesion molecules to PSD proteins, such as PSD-95, and to receptors and transporters for neurotransmitters (Jo et al., 1999; Perego et al., 1999, 2000).

Experiments using purified proteins in GST-pulldown experiments show that the interaction of GluR6 with beta -catenin is indirect. The link between GluR6 with beta -catenin has not been identified. However, we provide several pieces of evidence suggesting that interaction of GluR6 with beta -catenin is not mediated by its interaction with CASK or with PSD-95 and does not require complex interactions involving synapse-specific proteins. In GST-pulldown experiments using fusion proteins constructed with full-length or truncated GluR6 C-terminal domains, CASK and PSD-95 (Garcia et al., 1998) interact with full-length GluR6 C terminal but not with GluR6Delta 4, whereas some interaction is retained for beta -catenin with the GluR6Delta 4 construct. In addition, GluR6 and endogenous beta -catenin interact in transfected COS-7 cells, which lack most proteins enriched in synaptic junctions, such as PSD-95 or CASK. Finally, cotransfection of PSD-95 with myc-GluR6 in COS-7 cells results in a decrease in beta -catenin interaction with GluR6, whereas an increased binding would be expected if PSD-95 (or an analogous PDZ domain protein) provided a link between beta -catenin and GluR6.

What insight do these experiments give as to the subcellular distribution of GluR6-containing KARs? Comparison of the distribution of GluR6 and beta -catenin in the non-neuronal cells COS-7 and C2 demonstrates a striking overlap of the two proteins at cell-cell junctions. Enrichment of myc-GluR6 at cell-cell junctions is lost when the C-terminal domain is deleted of 14 aa, whereas this truncated form of GluR6 is properly inserted in the plasmic membrane. In neurons, cadherin/catenin proteins are enriched in regions forming an adhesion belt bordering transmitter release zones (Fannon and Colman, 1996; Uchida et al., 1996; Bruses, 2000). The localization of GluR6-containing KARs together with beta -catenin at perisynaptic sites could provide an explanation for the unexpected properties of KAR-mediated EPSCs (for review, see Bureau et al., 2000; Frerking and Nicoll, 2000). Localization of KARs at some distance from glutamate release sites would account for a low concentration of glutamate-activating synaptic KARs, resulting in small amplitude, slow activation, and summation properties of KAR-EPSCs. It must be noted, however, that PSD-95, a protein enriched in the postsynaptic density, also interacts with GluR6. In COS-7 cells, PSD-95 and beta -catenin appear to compete for the binding to GluR6. This competition might be relevant to the distribution of distinct pools of GluR6-containing KARs in distinct synaptic subdomains, either at the center of the postsynaptic density where PSD-95 is enriched or at regions bordering transmitter release zones colocalized with beta -catenin proteins (Fannon and Colman, 1996; Uchida et al., 1996; Bruses, 2000). alpha -Catenin, which binds beta -catenin (Gumbiner, 1995), does not coimmunoprecipitate with myc-GluR6 from transgenic mouse brain extracts. Large-scale analysis of the NMDA receptor complex has also shown lack of interaction with alpha -catenin (Husi et al., 2000). Cadherins are distributed symmetrically across the synaptic junction at presynaptic and postsynaptic sites and thus could associate with GluR6 in the postsynaptic membrane, as well as in axon terminals. For instance, at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapse, GluR6-containing KARs appear to be both presynaptic and postsynaptic (Mulle et al., 1998; Contractor et al., 2000). However, it is at present unclear whether presynaptic KARs are located on axon terminals or on axons at some distance from the synaptic terminal.

There is mounting evidence for an interplay between synaptic adhesion and synaptic plasticity (Tang et al., 1998; Bozdagi et al., 2000; Manabe et al., 2000). However, KARs are involved in different forms of synaptic plasticity, by acting at presynaptic or postsynaptic sites (Bortolotto et al., 1999; Contractor et al., 2001; Li et al., 2001). Cadherin-mediated synaptic adhesion is a dynamic process that could depend on the state of activity of the synapse (Tanaka et al., 2000). Changes in adhesivity that occur through development or during the formation of new synapses (Benson and Tanaka, 1998; Tanaka et al., 2000) may be an important mechanism by which synaptic properties are regulated. In experiments mimicking the formation of cadherin-mediated adhesive junctions using N-cadherin-covered beads, GluR6 tightly follows the redistribution of cadherin/catenin complexes, as well as the reorganization of the cytoskeleton induced by activation of N-cadherins, such as what occurs during the formation and remodeling of synaptic junctions. However, enrichment of myc-GluR6 at contacts between anti-myc-covered latex beads and cell membrane does not result in a parallel enrichment of cadherin/catenin complexes. This implies that a large pool of GluR6 is not associated with cadherin/catenin proteins under basal conditions and that activation of cadherins promotes the recruitment of GluR6 to the cadherin/catenin complex. These results strongly suggest a role for cadherin/catenin proteins in targeting and/or stabilizing GluR6 at synaptic junctions. It is tempting to speculate that GluR6-mediated synaptic transmission, and consequently its implication in synaptic plasticity, will be controlled by dynamic changes in cadherin-mediated adhesive properties. Inversely, GluR6/cadherin interaction might provide a link between synaptic activation and cadherin/catenin-mediated intracellular processes. Together, our results open new perspectives for the understanding of the synaptic functions of cadherin/catenin complexes.


    FOOTNOTES

Received Oct. 10, 2001; revised April 30, 2002; accepted May 2, 2002.

This work was supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the French Ministère de la Recherche, the Conseil Régional Aquitaine (to C.M.), the Association pour la Recherche sur le cancer (to R.-M.M.), and the Association Française contre les Myopathies (to R-M.M.). We thank Agnès Hémar for comments on this manuscript, Richard Schwartzmann (Université Paris VI) for his help with the confocal microscope, Dr. Carla Perego for the gift of antibodies and helpful advice, and Drs. Kaibuchi and Nagafuchi for the gift of Mal-beta -catenin cDNA.

Correspondence should be addressed to Christophe Mulle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5091, Institut François Magendie, Bordeaux 33077, France. E-mail: mulle{at}u-bordeaux2.fr.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

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