A genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Neural network function is based upon the patterns and types of connections made between neurons. Neuronal synapses are adhesions specialized for communication and they come in two types, chemical and electrical. Communication at chemical synapses occurs via neurotransmitter release whereas electrical synapses utilize gap junctions for direct ionic and metabolic coupling. Electrical synapses are often viewed as symmetrical structures, with the same components making both sides of the gap junction. By contrast, we show that a broad set of electrical synapses in zebrafish, Danio rerio, require two gap-junction-forming Connexins for formation and function. We find that one Connexin functions presynaptically while the other functions postsynaptically in forming the channels. We also show that these synapses are required for the speed and coordination of escape responses. Our data identify a genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses and show they are required for appropriate behavioral performance.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25364.001

Related collections

Most cited references 51

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

A transcription activator-like effector toolbox for genome engineering.

Neville Sanjana, Le Cong, Yang Zhou … (2012)

Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are a class of naturally occurring DNA-binding proteins found in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas sp. The DNA-binding domain of each TALE consists of tandem 34-amino acid repeat modules that can be rearranged according to a simple cipher to target new DNA sequences. Customized TALEs can be used for a wide variety of genome engineering applications, including transcriptional modulation and genome editing. Here we describe a toolbox for rapid construction of custom TALE transcription factors (TALE-TFs) and nucleases (TALENs) using a hierarchical ligation procedure. This toolbox facilitates affordable and rapid construction of custom TALE-TFs and TALENs within 1 week and can be easily scaled up to construct TALEs for multiple targets in parallel. We also provide details for testing the activity in mammalian cells of custom TALE-TFs and TALENs using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and Surveyor nuclease, respectively. The TALE toolbox described here will enable a broad range of biological applications.

0 comments Cited 253 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Electrical synapses and their functional interactions with chemical synapses.

E. Pereda (2014)

Brain function relies on the ability of neurons to communicate with each other. Interneuronal communication primarily takes place at synapses, where information from one neuron is rapidly conveyed to a second neuron. There are two main modalities of synaptic transmission: chemical and electrical. Far from functioning independently and serving unrelated functions, mounting evidence indicates that these two modalities of synaptic transmission closely interact, both during development and in the adult brain. Rather than conceiving synaptic transmission as either chemical or electrical, this article emphasizes the notion that synaptic transmission is both chemical and electrical, and that interactions between these two forms of interneuronal communication might be required for normal brain development and function.

0 comments Cited 189 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Gap junctions.

Daniel Goodenough, Christine Paul (2009)

Gap junctions are aggregates of intercellular channels that permit direct cell-cell transfer of ions and small molecules. Initially described as low-resistance ion pathways joining excitable cells (nerve and muscle), gap junctions are found joining virtually all cells in solid tissues. Their long evolutionary history has permitted adaptation of gap-junctional intercellular communication to a variety of functions, with multiple regulatory mechanisms. Gap-junctional channels are composed of hexamers of medium-sized families of integral proteins: connexins in chordates and innexins in precordates. The functions of gap junctions have been explored by studying mutations in flies, worms, and humans, and targeted gene disruption in mice. These studies have revealed a wide diversity of function in tissue and organ biology.

0 comments Cited 172 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Contributors

Yang Dan: Role: Reviewing editor

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): eLife

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Elife

Journal ID (hwp): eLife

Journal ID (publisher-id): eLife

Title: eLife

Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd

ISSN (Electronic): 2050-084X

Publication date (Electronic, pub): 22 May 2017

Publication date Collection: 2017

Volume: 6

Electronic Location Identifier: e25364

Affiliations

[1 ]deptDivision of Basic Sciences , Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center , Seattle, United States

[2 ]deptDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , Philadelphia, United States

[3 ]deptDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School , University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston , Houston, United States

University of California, Berkeley , United States

Author notes

acmiller@ 123456uoregon.edu

[‡]

Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, United States.

[†]

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Author information

Adam C Miller http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7519-3677

Alex C Whitebirch http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9178-1636

John O'Brien http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0270-3442

Article

Publisher ID: 25364

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.25364

PMC ID: 5462537

PubMed ID: 28530549

SO-VID: 2cc883e1-bdf0-47eb-9c8d-f60b19480d39

License:

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

History

Date received : 24 January 2017

Date accepted : 20 May 2017

Funding

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000065, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;

Award ID: F32NS074839

Award Recipient : Adam C Miller

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000025, National Institute of Mental Health;

Award ID: R01MH109498

Award Recipient : Michael Granato

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000053, National Eye Institute;

Award ID: R01EY012857

Award Recipient : John O'Brien

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009633, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development;

Award ID: R01HD076585

Award Recipient : Cecilia B Moens

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000065, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;

Award ID: R21NS076950

Award Recipient : Cecilia B Moens

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000065, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;

Award ID: K99/R00NS085035

Award Recipient : Adam C Miller

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Custom metadata

elife-xml-version 2.5

Author impact statement Electrical synapses are neuronal, gap-junction-based connections found throughout the nervous system that, in the escape circuit of zebrafish, are composed of molecularly distinct pre- and postsynaptic junction forming proteins that are required for behavioral performance.

ScienceOpen disciplines: Life sciences

Keywords: electrical synapse,synaptogenesis,neural circuit wiring,behavior,connexins,zebrafish

Data availability:

ScienceOpen disciplines: Life sciences

Keywords: electrical synapse, synaptogenesis, neural circuit wiring, behavior, connexins, zebrafish

A genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses

Read this article at

Abstract

Related collections

Behavioral Ecology of Fishes

Most cited references 51

A transcription activator-like effector toolbox for genome engineering.

Electrical synapses and their functional interactions with chemical synapses.

Gap junctions.

Author and article information

Contributors

Journal

Affiliations

Author notes

Author information

Article

History

Funding

Categories

Custom metadata

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 86

Cited by 22

Most referenced authors 744