1. UNC-30/PITX coordinates neurotransmitter identity with postsynaptic GABA receptor clustering.
- Author
-
Correa E, Mialon M, Cizeron M, Bessereau JL, Pinan-Lucarre B, and Kratsios P
- Subjects
- Animals, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid metabolism, Homeodomain Proteins metabolism, Homeodomain Proteins genetics, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neurotransmitter Agents metabolism, Receptors, GABA metabolism, Receptors, GABA genetics, Receptors, GABA-A metabolism, Receptors, GABA-A genetics, Synapses metabolism, Synaptic Transmission, Nuclear Proteins genetics, Nuclear Proteins metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans genetics, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins genetics, Motor Neurons metabolism, Transcription Factors metabolism, Transcription Factors genetics
- Abstract
Terminal selectors are transcription factors that control neuronal identity by regulating expression of key effector molecules, such as neurotransmitter biosynthesis proteins and ion channels. Whether and how terminal selectors control neuronal connectivity is poorly understood. Here, we report that UNC-30 (PITX2/3), the terminal selector of GABA nerve cord motor neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, is required for neurotransmitter receptor clustering, a hallmark of postsynaptic differentiation. Animals lacking unc-30 or madd-4B, the short isoform of the motor neuron-secreted synapse organizer madd-4 (punctin/ADAMTSL), display severe GABA receptor type A (GABAAR) clustering defects in postsynaptic muscle cells. Mechanistically, UNC-30 acts directly to induce and maintain transcription of madd-4B and GABA biosynthesis genes (e.g. unc-25/GAD, unc-47/VGAT). Hence, UNC-30 controls GABAA receptor clustering in postsynaptic muscle cells and GABA biosynthesis in presynaptic cells, transcriptionally coordinating two crucial processes for GABA neurotransmission. Further, we uncover multiple target genes and a dual role for UNC-30 as both an activator and a repressor of gene transcription. Our findings on UNC-30 function may contribute to our molecular understanding of human conditions, such as Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, caused by PITX2 and PITX3 gene variants., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF