Structural basis for synaptic adhesion mediated by neuroligin-neurexin interactions

Xiaoyan Chen; Heli Liu; Ann H.R. Shim; Pamela J. Focia; Xiaolin He

doi:10.1038/nsmb1350

Structural basis for synaptic adhesion mediated by neuroligin-neurexin interactions

Xiaoyan Chen, Heli Liu, Ann H.R. Shim, Pamela J. Focia, Xiaolin He^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

The heterophilic synaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins and neurexins are essential for establishing and maintaining neuronal circuits by modulating the formation and maturation of synapses. The neuroligin-neurexin adhesion is Ca²⁺-dependent and regulated by alternative splicing. We report a structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.4 Å between the mouse neuroligin-1 (NL1) cholinesterase-like domain and the mouse neurexin-1β (NX1β) LNS (laminin, neurexin and sex hormone-binding globulin-like) domain. The structure revealed a delicate neuroligin-neurexin assembly mediated by a hydrophilic, Ca²⁺-mediated and solvent-supplemented interface, rendering it capable of being modulated by alternative splicing and other regulatory factors. Thermodynamic data supported a mechanism wherein splicing site B of NL1 acts by modulating a salt bridge at the edge of the NL1-NX1β interface. Mapping neuroligin mutations implicated in autism indicated that most such mutations are structurally destabilizing, supporting deficient neuroligin biosynthesis and processing as a common cause for this brain disorder.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	50-56
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb1350
State	Published - Jan 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Biology
Structural Biology

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10.1038/nsmb1350

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title = "Structural basis for synaptic adhesion mediated by neuroligin-neurexin interactions",

abstract = "The heterophilic synaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins and neurexins are essential for establishing and maintaining neuronal circuits by modulating the formation and maturation of synapses. The neuroligin-neurexin adhesion is Ca2+-dependent and regulated by alternative splicing. We report a structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.4 {\AA} between the mouse neuroligin-1 (NL1) cholinesterase-like domain and the mouse neurexin-1β (NX1β) LNS (laminin, neurexin and sex hormone-binding globulin-like) domain. The structure revealed a delicate neuroligin-neurexin assembly mediated by a hydrophilic, Ca2+-mediated and solvent-supplemented interface, rendering it capable of being modulated by alternative splicing and other regulatory factors. Thermodynamic data supported a mechanism wherein splicing site B of NL1 acts by modulating a salt bridge at the edge of the NL1-NX1β interface. Mapping neuroligin mutations implicated in autism indicated that most such mutations are structurally destabilizing, supporting deficient neuroligin biosynthesis and processing as a common cause for this brain disorder.",

author = "Xiaoyan Chen and Heli Liu and Shim, {Ann H.R.} and Focia, {Pamela J.} and Xiaolin He",

note = "Funding Information: We thank E.M. Silinsky for critically reading the manuscript and K.C. Garcia for encouragement. X.H. is supported by the Brain Tumor Society and US National Institutes of Health grant 1R01GM078055. The Structural Biology Facility is supported by the R.H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. We thank the Southeast Regional Collaborative Access Team (SER-CAT) and Life Sciences Collaborative Access Team (LS-CAT) at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, for assistance in data collection.",

year = "2008",

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AU - Chen, Xiaoyan

AU - Liu, Heli

AU - Shim, Ann H.R.

AU - Focia, Pamela J.

AU - He, Xiaolin

N1 - Funding Information: We thank E.M. Silinsky for critically reading the manuscript and K.C. Garcia for encouragement. X.H. is supported by the Brain Tumor Society and US National Institutes of Health grant 1R01GM078055. The Structural Biology Facility is supported by the R.H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. We thank the Southeast Regional Collaborative Access Team (SER-CAT) and Life Sciences Collaborative Access Team (LS-CAT) at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, for assistance in data collection.

PY - 2008/1

Y1 - 2008/1

N2 - The heterophilic synaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins and neurexins are essential for establishing and maintaining neuronal circuits by modulating the formation and maturation of synapses. The neuroligin-neurexin adhesion is Ca2+-dependent and regulated by alternative splicing. We report a structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.4 Å between the mouse neuroligin-1 (NL1) cholinesterase-like domain and the mouse neurexin-1β (NX1β) LNS (laminin, neurexin and sex hormone-binding globulin-like) domain. The structure revealed a delicate neuroligin-neurexin assembly mediated by a hydrophilic, Ca2+-mediated and solvent-supplemented interface, rendering it capable of being modulated by alternative splicing and other regulatory factors. Thermodynamic data supported a mechanism wherein splicing site B of NL1 acts by modulating a salt bridge at the edge of the NL1-NX1β interface. Mapping neuroligin mutations implicated in autism indicated that most such mutations are structurally destabilizing, supporting deficient neuroligin biosynthesis and processing as a common cause for this brain disorder.

AB - The heterophilic synaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins and neurexins are essential for establishing and maintaining neuronal circuits by modulating the formation and maturation of synapses. The neuroligin-neurexin adhesion is Ca2+-dependent and regulated by alternative splicing. We report a structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.4 Å between the mouse neuroligin-1 (NL1) cholinesterase-like domain and the mouse neurexin-1β (NX1β) LNS (laminin, neurexin and sex hormone-binding globulin-like) domain. The structure revealed a delicate neuroligin-neurexin assembly mediated by a hydrophilic, Ca2+-mediated and solvent-supplemented interface, rendering it capable of being modulated by alternative splicing and other regulatory factors. Thermodynamic data supported a mechanism wherein splicing site B of NL1 acts by modulating a salt bridge at the edge of the NL1-NX1β interface. Mapping neuroligin mutations implicated in autism indicated that most such mutations are structurally destabilizing, supporting deficient neuroligin biosynthesis and processing as a common cause for this brain disorder.

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Structural basis for synaptic adhesion mediated by neuroligin-neurexin interactions

Abstract

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