Cell Types and Synapses Expressing the SNARE Complex Regulating Proteins Complexin 1 and Complexin 2 in Mammalian Retina.

Abstract

Complexins (Cplxs) 1 to 4 are components of the presynaptic compartment of chemical synapses where they regulate important steps in synaptic vesicle exocytosis. In the retina, all four Cplxs are present, and while we know a lot about Cplxs 3 and 4, little is known about Cplxs 1 and 2. Here, we performed in situ hybridization experiments and bioinformatics and exploited Cplx 1 and Cplx 2 single-knockout mice combined with immunocytochemistry and light microscopy to characterize in detail the cell type and synapse-specific distribution of Cplx 1 and Cplx 2. We found that Cplx 2 and not Cplx 1 is the main isoform expressed in normal and displaced amacrine cells and ganglion cells in mouse retinae and that amacrine cells seem to operate with a single Cplx isoform at their conventional chemical synapses. Surprising was the finding that retinal function, determined with electroretinographic recordings, was altered in Cplx 1 but not Cplx 2 single-knockout mice. In summary, the results provide an important basis for future studies on the function of Cplxs 1 and 2 in the processing of visual signals in the mammalian retina.

• Authors: Uwe Thorsten Lux, Johanna Ehrenberg, Anneka Joachimsthaler, Jenny Atorf, Bianca Pircher, Kerstin Reim, Jan Kremers, Andreas Gießl, Johann Helmut Brandstätter
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 22 Issue 15 (Jul 29 2021) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34360929 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• SNARE Proteins
• complexin I
• complexin II

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport (genetics, metabolism)
• Amacrine Cells (metabolism)
• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• Computational Biology (methods)
• Electroretinography (methods)
• Female
• Immunohistochemistry (methods)
• In Situ Hybridization (methods)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Photoreceptor Cells (metabolism)
• Retinal Bipolar Cells (metabolism)
• Retinal Ganglion Cells (metabolism)
• Retinal Horizontal Cells (metabolism)
• SNARE Proteins (metabolism)
• Synapses (metabolism)