Brief Communications

Neto Auxiliary Protein Interactions Regulate Kainate and NMDA Receptor Subunit Localization at Mossy Fiber–CA3 Pyramidal Cell Synapses

Megan S. Wyeth, Kenneth A. Pelkey, Ronald S. Petralia, Michael W. Salter, Roderick R. McInnes and Chris J. McBain
Journal of Neuroscience 8 January 2014, 34 (2) 622-628; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3098-13.2014

Abstract

Neto1 and Neto2 auxiliary subunits coassemble with NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and kainate receptors (KARs) to modulate their function. In the hippocampus, Neto1 enhances the amplitude and prolongs the kinetics of KAR-mediated currents at mossy fiber (MF)–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses. However, whether Neto1 trafficks KARs to synapses or simply alters channel properties is unresolved. Therefore, postembedding electron microscopy was performed to investigate the localization of GluK2/3 subunits at MF–CA3 synapses in Neto-null mice. Postsynaptic GluK2/3 Immunogold labeling was substantially reduced in Neto-null mice compared with wild types. Moreover, spontaneous KAR-mediated synaptic currents and metabotropic KAR signaling were absent in CA3 pyramidal cells of Neto-null mice. A similar loss of ionotropic and metabotropic KAR function was observed in Neto1, but not Neto2, single knock-out mice, specifically implicating Neto1 in regulating CA3 pyramidal cell KAR localization and function. Additional controversy pertains to the role of Neto proteins in modulating synaptic NMDARs. While Immunogold labeling for GluN2A at MF–CA3 synapses was comparable between wild-type and Neto-null mice, labeling for postsynaptic GluN2B was robustly increased in Neto-null mice. Accordingly, NMDAR-mediated currents at MF–CA3 synapses exhibited increased sensitivity to a GluN2B-selective antagonist in Neto1 knockouts relative to wild types. Thus, despite preservation of the overall MF–CA3 synaptic NMDAR-mediated current, loss of Neto1 alters NMDAR subunit composition. These results confirm that Neto protein interactions regulate synaptic localization of KAR and NMDAR subunits at MF–CA3 synapses, with implications for both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamatergic recruitment of the CA3 network.

Introduction

Auxiliary proteins coassemble with receptors/channels to modify their inherent biophysical features, altering function and, in some cases, regulating subcellular targeting (Yan and Tomita, 2012). The discovery of transmembrane proteins Neto1 and Neto2 as auxiliary kainate receptor (KAR) subunits elucidated why currents mediated by heterologously expressed KARs are small and brief relative to native KARs (Zhang et al., 2009; Tomita and Castillo, 2012; for review see Copits and Swanson, 2012). In general, Neto1 and Neto2 directly interact with KAR subunits to increase channel function by modulating gating properties (Zhang et al., 2009; Copits et al., 2011; Fisher and Mott, 2013). Neto1 knock-out mice exhibit dramatic deficits in postsynaptic KAR function at hippocampal mossy fiber (MF)–CA3 pyramidal cell synapses where Neto1 is abundant and KARs critically regulate synaptic function (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). An additional role for Neto1 in targeting KARs to synapses is controversial, with contradictory results obtained in different cell types and with different experimental approaches (Copits et al., 2011; Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011).

Further controversy surrounds the role of Neto1 in regulating NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function. At Schaffer collateral (SC)–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses in Neto1 knock-out mice, an impaired long-term potentiation phenotype with associated learning and memory deficits, was linked to reduced NMDAR currents attributed to decreased postsynaptic GluN2A (Ng et al., 2009). A similar reduction in NMDAR-mediated transmission at associational/commissural inputs to CA3 pyramidal cells of Neto1 knockouts was reported in one study (Tang et al., 2011) but not in another (Straub et al., 2011). Moreover, neither study observed a deficit in NMDAR transmission at MF–CA3 synapses of Neto1 knockouts (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011).

This study took advantage of the resolution afforded by Immunogold electron microscopy to clarify whether Neto interactions are important for postsynaptic targeting of KAR and NMDAR subunits at MF–CA3 synapses. The ultrastructural investigation was complemented with further electrophysiological interrogation of CA3 pyramidal cells to evaluate whether Neto interactions also regulate metabotropic KAR signaling, and to probe for more subtle alterations to NMDAR transmission at MF–CA3 synapses.

Materials and Methods

Animals.

Receptor subunit expression was investigated with electron microscopy on male (6 weeks old) wild-type and Neto1/Neto2 knock-out (Neto-null) mice (3 each). The GluK2/3 antibody was tested in two GluK1/2 knock-out mice. Electrophysiology was conducted on P14-P35 wild-type, Neto1 knock-out, Neto2 knock-out, and Neto-null mice (same lines used in Ng et al., 2009 and Tang et al., 2011). All procedures relating to animal care and treatment conformed to NIH guidelines.

Antisera.

To investigate changes in receptor subunit expression, rabbit anti-GluK2/3 (catalog #04–921, Millipore) was used at 1:50 (Fernandes et al., 2009). Rabbit anti-GluN2A (catalog #GluRe1C-Rb-Af543, Frontier Science) was used at 1:50, and rabbit anti-GluN2B (catalog #GluRe2C-Rb-Af300, Frontier Science) was used at 1:25 (Petralia et al., 2005).

Postembedding electron microscopy.

Mice were anesthetized and perfused through the ascending aorta with fresh 4% PFA and 0.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.12 m phosphate buffer at room temperature. Horizontal sections were processed with freeze substitution and low-temperature embedding. Ultrathin sections were labeled using secondary antibody conjugated to 5 nm colloidal gold particles (1:40) and examined on a JEOL JEM-1010. All procedures followed previously detailed methods (Petralia and Wenthold, 1999).

Immunolabeling quantitation.

MF–CA3 synapses were randomly sampled (unsystematically) throughout CA3 stratum lucidum. Analysis was blinded for the experiments testing antibody specificity. The length of the postsynaptic density (PSD) for every distinct synapse (labeled or not) was measured in ImageJ to calculate the density of postsynaptic gold particles. Particles were counted as postsynaptic if they were in the PSD, within 20 nm from the synaptic membrane to allow for distance added by the antibodies. Gold particles in the cleft were considered postsynaptic if they were closest to that membrane. For each subunit, 240–578 synapses per genotype (at least 50 per mouse) were analyzed, with significance determined by independent-samples Kruskal–Wallis test.

Electrophysiology.

Whole-cell recordings in voltage-clamp mode were made from CA3 pyramidal neurons in transverse vibratome slices (300 μm) cut in ice-cold saline solution (130 mm NaCl, 24 mm NaHCO3, 3.5 mm KCl, 1.25 mm NaH2PO4, 0.5 mm CaCl2, 4.5 mm MgCl2, and 10 mm glucose, saturated with 95% O2 and 5% CO2, pH 7.4) and incubated for a minimum of 30 min at 35°C. In the recording chamber, slices were perfused (2–3 ml/min) with extracellular solution (130 mm NaCl, 24 mm NaHCO3, 3.5 mm KCl, 1.25 mm NaH2PO4, 2.5 mm CaCl2, 1.5 mm MgCl2, 10 mm glucose, and 0.005–0.010 mm bicuculline methiodide saturated with 95% O2 and 5% CO2, pH 7.4, 32–35°C).

To examine spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) and metabotropic KAR function, recording electrodes (4–5 MΩ) were filled with a potassium methylsulfate-based intracellular solution to stabilize the slow afterhyperpolarization current (IsAHP; Fisahn et al., 2005), as follows: 150 mm KCH3SO4, 10 mm KCl, 10 mm HEPES, 4 mm NaCl, 4 mm Mg2ATP, and 0.4 mm Na4GTP, 290–300 mOsm, pH 7.3. IsAHP was evoked at 1 min intervals with a depolarizing pulse (50 mV/150 ms) from a holding potential (Vh) of −50 mV. IsAHP amplitude (determined 450 ms after the depolarizing pulse) was allowed to stabilize for 10–25 min before kainate (200 nm) application in the presence of [1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine] (GYKI)-53655 (0.05 mm). sEPSCs were detected by template matching and a minimum 100 events/cell were averaged to determine the weighted decay time constant from a double exponential fit.

Evoked NMDAR-mediated transmission at MF–CA3 synapses was examined using an intracellular solution composed of the following: 95 mm Cs-gluconate, 5 mm CsCl, 0.6 mm EGTA, 5 mm MgCl2, 4 mm NaCl, 2 mm Na2ATP, 0.3 mm NaGTP, 40 mm HEPES, 10 mm BAPTA, and 1 mm QX-314, pH 7.2–7.3, 290–300 mOsm. Synaptic responses (paired pulses, 20 Hz) were evoked at 0.1–0.2 Hz by low-intensity microstimulation in stratum lucidum. The MF origin of EPSCs was first confirmed by a rapidly rising, strongly facilitating AMPA receptor-mediated component at Vh of −70 mV, following which the pharmacologically isolated NMDAR-mediated component (DNQX, 0.010 mm; Vh = +40 mV) was probed with ifenprodil (0.005 mm). Statistical significance was assessed using parametric (unpaired t tests) or nonparametric (Mann–Whitney U test) tests, as appropriate.

Results

Reduced postsynaptic GluK2/3 on CA3 pyramidal cell spines in Neto-null mice

Prior studies provided conflicting evidence as to whether Neto1 participates in localizing postsynaptic KARs to MF–CA3 synapses (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). Postembedding immunoelectron microscopy was therefore conducted to examine GluK2/3 expression at the ultrastructural level. MF boutons (MFBs) are clearly identifiable by their large size and often engulf protruding thorny excrescent spines of CA3 pyramidal cells (Fig. 1A). In wild-type mice, Immunogold particles abundantly labeled GluK2/3 at PSDs of CA3 complex spines contacting MFBs (Fig. 1B,D,F). In Neto-null mice, GluK2/3 was found at the PSD of some complex spines (Fig. 1C); however, labeling was notably decreased, with many synapses unlabeled (Fig. 1E,G). Fewer MF–CA3 synapses were labeled in Neto-null mice (11%) than in the wild types (26%), reducing the density of postsynaptic Immunogold by half (3.3 ± 0.3 gold particles/μm in wild-type mice vs 1.5 ± 0.3 gold particles/μm in Neto-null mice; Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.0000047; Fig. 1H). By comparison, GluK2/3 labeling was essentially absent in GluK1/2 knock-out mice (0.2 ± 0.000018 gold particles/μm; p = −0.00000000043; Fig. 1H), reflecting the specificity of the antibody. These data are consistent with Neto interactions influencing GluK2/3 postsynaptic targeting.

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

GluK2/3 immunolabeling is reduced at MF–CA3 PSDs in Neto1/2 double KO (dKO) mice. A, A large MFB characteristically encompasses and forms asymmetric synapses (arrowheads) with two thorny excrescent spines, each containing a spine apparatus (S). B, D, F, In wild-type (WT) mice, GluK2/3 subunits are prevalent (arrows) at the PSD of CA3 complex spines synapsing with MFBs. C, In a Neto-null mouse, Immunogold also labels GluK2/3 at an asymmetric synapse in stratum lucidum (arrow). E, G, Extrasynaptic (arrow) and cytoplasmic colloidal gold leave synapses unlabeled in a Neto-null mouse. H, Pie charts demonstrate that fewer synapses are labeled in Neto-null than WT mice, and histograms display the combined density distribution of PSD gold particles. The average density of gold particles in Neto-null mice is less than half the density at WT synapses (far right), while minimal labeling in GluK1/2 knockouts demonstrates GluK2/3 antibody specificity. Scale bar, 100 nm.

Reduced ionotropic and metabotropic KAR signaling in Neto1 knock-out mice

Despite conflicting observations concerning the role of Neto1 in KAR synaptic localization, studies agree on dramatic deficits in MF-evoked KAR-mediated currents in Neto1 knock-out mice (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). In accord with these findings, this study found that loss of Neto1, but not Neto2, eliminated a slowly decaying component of mixed AMPA/KA sEPSCs that was consistently present in a subpopulation of events recorded in wild-type CA3 pyramidal cells (Fig. 2A,B). Moreover, while wild-type (and Neto2 knock-out) mice typically exhibited kinetically slow sEPSCs resistant to the AMPAR antagonist GYKI-53655, such unitary KAR-mediated events were absent in Neto1 knock-out (and Neto-null) mice (Fig. 2A). These findings affirm decreased ionotropic KAR function in mice lacking Neto1 and are consistent with the observed reduction of synaptic KARs in Neto-null mice.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Ionotropic and metabotropic KAR functions are deficient in the absence of Neto1. A, AMPAR-mediated currents dominate sEPSCs (Control) before GYKI-53655 isolates sEPSCKAs in a wild-type (black) and Neto2KO (blue) cell; but sEPSCKAs are undetectable in a Neto1KO (green) or Neto-null (cyan) cell following GYKI-53655. B, The average τdecay of sEPSCs (before GYKI-53655) is faster in Neto1KO (n = 8) and Neto-null (n = 15) cells, consistent with a loss of the slow KAR contribution to a subset of the sEPSCs that was present in WT (n = 8) and Neto2KO (n = 7) cells (A, arrows). Note that MF–CA3 synapse sEPSCs represent only a fraction of the entire sEPSC population collected, thus only a subset of the events contain a KAR-mediated component. C, KA reduces IsAHP (gray) in a WT and Neto2KO cell, but fails to reduce IsAHP in a Neto1KO or Neto-null cell. A control WT cell not exposed to KA is shown for comparison (red). D, Time course plot summarizing the effects of KA application upon IsAHP in WT (n = 8), Neto1KO (n = 6), Neto2KO (n = 5), and Neto-null (n = 10) cells, and untreated controls (n = 8). IsAHP amplitude was normalized to the value measured 3 min before beginning KA application. E, Histogram summarizing the effects of KA or vehicle upon IsAHP after 10 min perfusion. Also plotted are average changes in Vh observed upon KA (or vehicle) application. Calibration: A, 5 s, 50 pA; C, 5 s, 100 pA. *p < 0.05 versus WT control datasets (black bars in B and E). dKO, Double KO.

In addition to ionotropic transmission, KARs signal through G-proteins to suppress IsAHP (Melyan et al., 2002; Fisahn et al., 2005; Ruiz et al., 2005), prompting investigation of a role for Neto interactions in regulating metabotropic KAR signaling. The basic properties of IsAHP were not significantly altered by loss of Netos (maximum IsAHP amplitudes within the first 10 min of recording: 235 ± 28, 190 ± 25, 233 ± 53, and 299 ± 44 pA; τdecay: 1436 ± 97, 1521 ± 99, 1430 ± 62, and 1426 ± 55 ms for wild-type, Neto1 knock-out, Neto2 knock-out and Neto-null mice, respectively). As previously reported, bath application of kainate (200 nm) reduced IsAHP in wild-type and Neto2 knock-out mice (Fig. 2C–E). In contrast, kainate failed to depress IsAHP in Neto1 knock-out and Neto-null mice (Fig. 2C–E). Furthermore, while 200 nm kainate consistently produced a strong inward current in wild-type and Neto2 knock-out mice, such kainate-induced currents were absent in mice lacking Neto1 (Fig. 2E), revealing a severe impairment in both synaptic and extrasynaptic KAR function. Considered together, these findings indicate that Neto1 strongly influences the synaptic localization of CA3 pyramidal cell KAR subunits, and dictates both ionotropic and metabotropic KAR signaling.

Unaltered GluN2A labeling at MF–CA3 synapses in Neto-null mice

In addition to KARs, Neto1 reportedly maintains postsynaptic GluN2A at SC–CA1 synapses, resulting in reduced NMDAR-mediated currents in Neto1 knock-out mice (Ng et al., 2009). Although EPSCNMDAs appeared normal at MF–CA3 synapses in Neto knock-out mice (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011), immunoelectron microscopy was undertaken to investigate potential alterations in GluN2A expression. Colloidal gold labeled GluN2A subunits at the PSD of CA3 complex spines in wild-type mice (Fig. 3A,C,E). In Neto-null mice, GluN2A subunits were similarly observed at the PSD (Fig. 3B,D,F), with no difference in the percentage of labeled synapses (20% vs 21%), or the density of labeled GluN2A subunits at PSDs (1.4 ± 0.2 gold particles/μm in wild-type mice; 1.6 ± 0.2 gold particles/μm in Neto-null mice; Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.8; Fig. 3G).

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Postembedding labeling for GluN2A is unaltered in the MF pathway of Neto-null mice. A, C, E, Multiple Immunogold particles label postsynaptic GluN2A at oblique MF–CA3 synapses in WTs (arrows). B, D, F, In Neto-null mice, postsynaptic GluN2A subunits are similarly labeled with Immunogold (arrows). G, The same proportion of synapses is labeled in WT and Neto-null mice, with similar density distributions, resulting in comparable average densities between genotypes. Scale bar, 100 nm. dKO, Double KO.

Increased GluN2B at MF–CA3 synapses in Neto-null mice

Neto1 also associates with GluN2B, which was relatively increased in Neto1 knock-out mice at Schaffer collateral inputs (Ng et al., 2009), prompting investigation of GluN2B subunit expression at the MF–CA3 synapse. Typically, GluN2B expression declines over development (Petralia et al., 2005), and very low levels are present in stratum lucidum of adult rodents (Fritschy et al., 1998; Watanabe et al., 1998); accordingly, Immunogold only rarely labeled synaptic GluN2B in wild-type mice (Fig. 4A). Occasional gold particles were observed adjacent to synapses (Fig. 4C), while most synapses were unlabeled (Fig. 4E,G). However, in Neto-null mice, MF–CA3 synapses were more frequently and more heavily labeled for GluN2B (Fig. 4B,D,F), though unlabeled synapses remained (Fig. 4H). The percentage of labeled synapses was doubled in Neto-null mice relative to wild-type mice (from 6% to 12%), and the distribution revealed that labeled synapses had more particles, compounding to triple the density of postsynaptic Immunogold (from 0.5 ± 0.1 gold particles/μm in wild-type mice to 1.6 ± 0.3 gold particles/μm in Neto-null mice; Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.01; Fig. 4I).

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

GluN2B expression is increased at MF–CA3 synapses in the absence of Neto interactions. A, C, E, G, Colloidal gold (arrow) labels rare postsynaptic GluN2B at an MF–CA3 synapse in a WT mouse, as well as synapse-adjacent (C, arrow) and cytoplasmic GluN2B (E), leaving most synapses unlabeled (G). B, D, F, H, In Neto-null mice Immunogold particles (arrows) label postsynaptic GluN2B more robustly (B, D, F), while unlabeled synapses are also evident (H). I, However, a larger portion of synapses are labeled in Neto-null mice, and with greater abundance, combining to increase the average density of postsynaptic gold threefold. J, Greater ifenprodil inhibition of evoked MF–CA3 EPSCNMDAs (20 consecutive events averaged) in Neto1KO than WT mice. K, Time course plot (1 min running averages normalized to the first minute) illustrating the effects of ifenprodil on the peak amplitude of EPSCNMDA in Neto1KO (n = 6) and WT cells (n = 9). L, Histogram summaries for the effects of ifenprodil on EPSCNMDA, and AMPA/NMDA ratios, in WT and Neto1 knock-out mice. Residual EPSCNMDA following ifenprodil application is expressed as a percentage of control EPSCNMDA measured immediately before ifenprodil application. M, MF–CA3 synapse NMDA I–V curves with representative traces (insets) for WT (n = 7) and Neto1 knock-out (n = 7) cells. EPSCNMDA peak amplitudes at each holding potential are normalized to the amplitude obtained at a Vh = +50 mV. Scale bar: A–H, 100 nm. Calibration: J, K, 200 ms, 200 pA; insets, 50 ms, 100 pA; M, 100 ms, 100 pA. *p < 0.05. dKO, Double KO.

Increased ifenprodil sensitivity at MF–CA3 synapses of Neto1 knock-out mice

To corroborate the increased postsynaptic GluN2B labeling observed in Neto-null mice, sensitivity to the GluN2B antagonist ifenprodil was tested at MF–CA3 synapses. Consistent with the infrequent expression of synaptic GluN2B, ifenprodil (5 μm) only modestly inhibited EPSCNMDA amplitude in wild-type mice (Fig. 4J–L). By contrast, in Neto1 knockouts, ifenprodil yielded significantly greater inhibition (Fig. 4J–L). Although GluN2B subunit-dominated NMDARs are kinetically slower than those dominated by GluN2A subunits (Tovar et al., 2013), no significant difference in EPSCNMDA decay time constant was found between wild-type mice (69 ± 5.5 ms, n = 15 cells) and Neto1 knockouts (77 ± 9.1 ms, n = 15 cells, p = 0.48). Nor were any differences observed in the current–voltage relations of MF–CA3 synapse NMDARs (Fig. 4M). In both genotypes, EPSCNMDAs exhibited strong voltage-dependent block, suggesting minimal contribution of Mg2+-insensitive GluN2C/D NMDARs in wild-type or Neto1 knock-out mice (Berg et al., 2013). Finally, comparison of EPSCAMPA/EPSCNMDA confirmed that the overall NMDAR current at MF–CA3 synapses was unchanged in Neto1 knock-out mice (Fig. 4L), which is in agreement with previous reports (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). Together, our electron microscopy and electrophysiological findings indicate that, despite the preservation of synaptic NMDAR-mediated current, the loss of Neto1 alters NMDAR subunit composition at MF–CA3 synapses.

Discussion

Previous studies obtained conflicting biochemical, electrophysiological, and immunocytochemical evidence as to whether Neto interactions participate in the synaptic localization of KAR subunits (Copits et al., 2011; Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011, 2012). Here, consistent with a role for Neto proteins trafficking KAR to MF–CA3 synapses, electron microscopy revealed a markedly diminished density of postsynaptic GluK2/3 in Neto-null mice relative to wild types, which would contribute to the decreased amplitude of evoked KAR-mediated currents previously reported at MF–CA3 synapses in mice lacking Neto1 (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). Current and prior electrophysiological findings specifically implicate Neto1 as the primary mediator of KAR localization in CA3 pyramidal cells.

The observed loss of sEPSCKAs in mice lacking Neto1 indicated a reduction in receptors beyond that which could be attributed to simple alterations of channel gating. Given that some synaptic GluK2/3 remained in Neto1 knock-out and Neto-null mice, the failure to detect any GYKI-resistant sEPSCs may reflect that the remaining KARs are insensitive to the limited amount of available glutamate provided by unitary release events, as Neto1 interactions greatly enhance KAR affinity for glutamate. Alternatively, unitary EPSCKAs may simply fall below the limits of detection, as even with multiple fiber train stimulation to facilitate glutamate release, KAR-mediated events were reduced by half (relative to AMPAR-mediated events) in cells lacking Neto1 (Tang et al., 2011). The further inability for 200 nm bath-applied kainate to produce any significant inward current in the absence of Neto1 (compare with Fig. 2D) likely reflects combined deficits in KAR gating and overall membrane targeting in CA3 pyramidal cells. Such a general KAR membrane targeting a role for Neto proteins is likely to be highly cell type-, receptor subunit-, and Neto isoform-dependent, as conflicting findings have emerged for various recombinant expression systems with different KAR subunits in combination with Neto1 or Neto2 (Zhang et al., 2009; Copits et al., 2011).

Compromised metabotropic KAR alleviation of the IsAHP at the MF–CA3 synapse in cells without Neto1 may indicate that Neto1 confers metabotropic KAR function (for instance, by serving as an intermediary for G-protein interactions), or may simply reflect insufficient KAR activation due to scarce KAR surface expression or lower kainate affinity of Neto-less KARs. A higher kainate concentration may be required to trigger metabotropic KAR signaling in Neto1 knock-out mice; however, 200 nm is 10-fold above the dose required to deliver the maximum response for this KAR function (Ruiz et al., 2005). Overall, the loss of sEPSCKAs and ionotropic/metabotropic responses to 200 nm kainate in the absence of Neto1 indicate that very few receptors containing either high-affinity subunits (∼5 nm kainate; GluK4,5) or low-affinity subunits (∼50 nm kainate; GluK1–3) remain functional in the membrane. Importantly, the loss of Neto proteins does not reduce the total abundance of KAR subunits available to CA3 pyramidal cells (Straub et al., 2011, Tang et al., 2011), indicating that the current findings reflect a specific deficit in synaptic (and perhaps overall membrane) KAR localization.

Like Neto1, GluK2 and GluK5 are particularly abundant at the MF–CA3 synapse (Darstein et al., 2003; Ruiz et al., 2005; Straub et al., 2011) where they are functionally intertwined. GluK2/3 immunoreactivity likely reflects GluK2 expression as the labeling is extremely limited in GluK2 knock-out mice and all but absent in stratum lucidum (Fig. 1H; Darstein et al., 2003; Straub et al., 2011). In the mossy fiber pathway, GluK2 and GluK5 coassemble and Neto1 coimmunoprecipitates with both (Straub et al., 2011; Tang et al., 2011). GluK5 cannot reach the plasma membrane alone (Ren et al., 2003), and GluK2/3 immunolabeling is drastically reduced in GluK4/GluK5 knockouts at MF–CA3 synapses (Fernandes et al., 2009). Thus, both GluK2 and GluK5 are likely to be reduced at the PSD in Neto-null mice (substantiated by immunoblot, Tang et al., 2011; but see Straub et al., 2011), whether Neto1 targets GluK2, GluK5, or both to the synapse.

In contrast with reduced GluK2/3 labeling, postsynaptic GluN2B labeling was strikingly increased at MF–CA3 synapses in Neto-null mice. A corresponding decrease in GluN2A, similar to the reduction described in CA1 of Neto1 knock-out mice (Ng et al., 2009; but see Straub et al., 2011), would have accounted for the unchanged EPSCNMDA amplitude. Although GluN2A and GluN2B subunit densities cannot be directly compared with each other due to potential differences in antibody efficacy, the relative changes between wild-type and knock-out mice did not demonstrate any decrease in GluN2A commensurate with the GluN2B increase in Neto-null mice. Therefore, increased GluN2B, together with unaltered NMDAR-mediated current, suggest that diheteromeric GluN1/GluN2A receptors in mature wild-type mice become triheteromeric GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B receptors in Neto-null mice. Indeed, the predominant influence of GluN2A on deactivation in such triheteromeric receptors may account for why no difference in EPSC kinetics was found between wild-type and Neto1 knock-out mice (Tovar et al., 2013).

Although preserved at the MF–CA3 synapse in Neto1 knock-out mice, EPSCNMDA amplitude was decreased at both SC–CA1 synapses and recurrent CA3 synapses in stratum radiatum (Ng et al., 2009; Tang et al., 2011). The difference between effects on NMDAR transmission at CA3 pyramidal versus granule cell terminals may derive from stronger Neto expression in stratum lucidum over stratum radiatum. Although Neto2 contributions cannot be ruled out, other studies have linked Neto1 to changes in NMDARs (Ng et al., 2009; Tang et al., 2011; Cousins et al., 2013), and in this study ifenprodil sensitivity was enhanced in Neto1 knockouts, implicating Neto1 in the regulation of MF–CA3 synapse NMDAR subunit composition.

Neto1 regulation of NMDAR subunit composition at MF–CA3 synapses potentially influences downstream intracellular signaling. In addition, the targeting function of Neto1, combined with its established role in regulating KAR channel properties, have the capacity to greatly influence KAR availability and synaptic participation. Both ionotropic and metabotropic KAR signaling were disrupted in Neto1 knockouts, substantiating the influence of auxiliary proteins over these receptors that are important for MF–CA3 transmission and plasticity, and likely cooperating to restrict excitability in mice lacking Neto1.

Footnotes

  • C.J.M. was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Intramural Research Program; R.S.P. was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Intramural Research Program; M.S.W. was supported by an NIGMS Intramural Postdoctoral Research Associate Fellowship; M.W.S. was supported by a Canada Research Chair, and the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair in Molecular Medicine; and R.R.M. was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research Grants MOP-7315 and IOP-54037, and a Canada Research Chair. We thank Ya-Xian Wang for help with electron microscopy.

  • The authors declare no competing financial interests.

  • Correspondence should be addressed to Chris J. McBain, Program in Developmental Neurobiology, Section on Cellular and Synaptic Neurophysiology, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Building, Room 3C903, 35 Lincoln Drive, MSC 3715, Bethesda, MD 20892. mcbainc{at}mail.nih.gov

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Neto Auxiliary Protein Interactions Regulate Kainate and NMDA Receptor Subunit Localization at Mossy Fiber–CA3 Pyramidal Cell Synapses
Megan S. Wyeth, Kenneth A. Pelkey, Ronald S. Petralia, Michael W. Salter, Roderick R. McInnes, Chris J. McBain
Journal of Neuroscience 8 January 2014, 34 (2) 622-628; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3098-13.2014
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