Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
14
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-7-20
pubmed:abstractText
Neuroligins are evolutionarily conserved postsynaptic cell-adhesion molecules that function, at least in part, by forming trans-synaptic complexes with presynaptic neurexins. Different neuroligin isoforms perform diverse functions and exhibit distinct intracellular localizations, but contain similar cytoplasmic sequences whose role remains largely unknown. Here, we analysed the effect of a single amino-acid substitution (R704C) that targets a conserved arginine residue in the cytoplasmic sequence of all neuroligins, and that was associated with autism in neuroligin-4. We introduced the R704C mutation into mouse neuroligin-3 by homologous recombination, and examined its effect on synapses in vitro and in vivo. Electrophysiological and morphological studies revealed that the neuroligin-3 R704C mutation did not significantly alter synapse formation, but dramatically impaired synapse function. Specifically, the R704C mutation caused a major and selective decrease in AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, without similarly changing NMDA or GABA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, and without detectably altering presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Our results suggest that the cytoplasmic tail of neuroligin-3 has a central role in synaptic transmission by modulating the recruitment of AMPA receptors to postsynaptic sites at excitatory synapses.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1460-2075
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
30
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2908-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Amino Acid Sequence, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Amino Acid Substitution, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Autistic Disorder, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-COS Cells, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Carrier Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Cells, Cultured, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Cercopithecus aethiops, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Cytoplasm, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Electrophysiology, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Female, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Hippocampus, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Male, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Membrane Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Mice, Knockout, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Molecular Sequence Data, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Nerve Tissue Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Neurons, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Point Mutation, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Receptors, AMPA, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Recombination, Genetic, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Synapses, pubmed-meshheading:21642956-Synaptic Transmission
pubmed:year
2011
pubmed:articleTitle
An autism-associated point mutation in the neuroligin cytoplasmic tail selectively impairs AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in hippocampus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural