The C2H2 zinc-finger protein SYD-9 is a putative posttranscriptional regulator for synaptic transmission

Wang, Y., Gracheva, E.O., Richmond, J., Kawano, T., Couto, J.M., Calarco, J.A., Vijayaratnam, V., Jin, Y. and Zhen, M. (2006) The C2H2 zinc-finger protein SYD-9 is a putative posttranscriptional regulator for synaptic transmission. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103(27), pp. 10450-10455. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.0602073103)

Abstract

Communication between neurons is largely achieved through chemical synapses, where neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals to activate postsynaptic cells. Exo- and endocytosis are coordinated to replenish the synaptic vesicle pool for sustained neuronal activity. We identified syd-9 (syd, synapse defective), a gene that encodes multiple C2H2 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins specifically required for synaptic function in Caenorhabditis elegans. syd-9 loss-of-function mutants exhibit locomotory defects, a diffuse distribution of synaptic proteins, and decreased synaptic transmission with unaffected neurodevelopment. syd-9 mutants share phenotypic and ultrastructural characteristics with mutants that lack synaptic proteins that are required for endocytosis. syd-9 mutants also display genetic interactions with these endocytotic mutants, suggesting that SYD-9 regulates endocytosis. SYD-9 proteins are enriched in the nuclei of both neuron and muscle cells, but their neuronal expression plays a major role in locomotion. SYD-9 isoforms display a speckle-like expression pattern that is typical of RNA-binding proteins that regulate premRNA splicing. Furthermore, syd-9 functions in parallel with unc-75 (unc, uncoordinated), the C. elegans homologue of the CELF/BrunoL family protein that regulates mRNA alternative splicing and processing, and is also required specifically for synaptic transmission. We propose that neuronal SYD-9 proteins are previously uncharacterized and specific posttranscriptional regulators of synaptic vesicle endocytosis.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Couto, Dr Jillian
• Authors: Wang, Y., Gracheva, E.O., Richmond, J., Kawano, T., Couto, J.M., Calarco, J.A., Vijayaratnam, V., Jin, Y., and Zhen, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• ISSN (Online): 1091-6490