Role Of Syntaxin Research Articles

First person – Sameena Parveen

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Sameena Parveen is first author on ‘ Syntaxin 7 contributes to breast cancer cell invasion by promoting invadopodia formation’, published in JCS. Sameena is a PhD student in the lab of Dr Sunando Datta at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, India, investigating the role of syntaxin 7 in the formation of invadopodia and its involvement in multiple trans-SNARE complexes.

Defining the Kv2.1–syntaxin molecular interaction identifies a first-in-class small molecule neuroprotectant

The neuronal cell death-promoting loss of cytoplasmic K+ following injury is mediated by an increase in Kv2.1 potassium channels in the plasma membrane. This phenomenon relies on Kv2.1 binding to syntaxin 1A via 9 amino acids within the channel intrinsically disordered C terminus. Preventing this interaction with a cell and blood-brain barrier-permeant peptide is neuroprotective in an in vivo stroke model. Here a rational approach was applied to define the key molecular interactions between syntaxin and Kv2.1, some of which are shared with mammalian uncoordinated-18 (munc18). Armed with this information, we found a small molecule Kv2.1-syntaxin-binding inhibitor (cpd5) that improves cortical neuron survival by suppressing SNARE-dependent enhancement of Kv2.1-mediated currents following excitotoxic injury. We validated that cpd5 selectively displaces Kv2.1-syntaxin-binding peptides from syntaxin and, at higher concentrations, munc18, but without affecting either synaptic or neuronal intrinsic properties in brain tissue slices at neuroprotective concentrations. Collectively, our findings provide insight into the role of syntaxin in neuronal cell death and validate an important target for neuroprotection.

Role of Syntaxin 4 in Activity-Dependent Exocytosis and Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal Neurons

Activity-dependent exocytosis of recycling endosomes that contain AMPA receptors in postsynaptic regions of hippocampal neurons occurs at microdomains enriched in the target SNARE [soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptor] syntaxin 4 (Stx4). These Stx4-enriched domains are located near the postsynaptic density, and disrupting SNARE interactions involving Stx4 prevents the fusion of recycling endosomes that contain AMPA receptors in dendritic spines. AMPA receptor trafficking is important for long-term potentiation; thus, Stx4 is an essential postsynaptic component for synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons.

Direct Interaction of a Brain Voltage-Gated K+Channel with Syntaxin 1A: Functional Impact on Channel Gating

Presynaptic voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channels play a physiological role in the regulation of transmitter release by virtue of their ability to shape presynaptic action potentials. However, the possibility of a direct interaction of these channels with the exocytotic apparatus has never been examined. We report the existence of a physical interaction in brain synaptosomes between Kvalpha1.1 and Kvbeta subunits with syntaxin 1A, occurring, at least partially, within the context of a macromolecular complex containing syntaxin, synaptotagmin, and SNAP-25. The interaction was altered after stimulation of neurotransmitter release. The interaction with syntaxin was further characterized in Xenopus oocytes by both overexpression and antisense knock-down of syntaxin. Direct physical interaction of syntaxin with the channel protein resulted in an increase in the extent of fast inactivation of the Kv1.1/Kvbeta1.1 channel. Syntaxin also affected the channel amplitude in a biphasic manner, depending on its concentration. At low syntaxin concentrations there was a significant increase in amplitudes, with no detectable change in cell-surface channel expression. At higher concentrations, however, the amplitudes decreased, probably because of a concomitant decrease in cell-surface channel expression, consistent with the role of syntaxin in regulation of vesicle trafficking. The observed physical and functional interactions between syntaxin 1A and a Kv channel may play a role in synaptic efficacy and neuronal excitability.

Involvement of SNAP-23 and syntaxin 6 in human neutrophil exocytosis

To understand the molecular basis of exocytosis in human neutrophils, the role of syntaxin 6 and SNAP-23 in neutrophil degranulation was examined. Human syntaxin 6 was cloned and identified as a 255-amino acid protein with a carboxy-terminal transmembrane region and two coiled-coil domains. Syntaxin 6 was localized mainly in the plasma membrane of human resting neutrophils, whereas SNAP-23 was located primarily in the mobilizable tertiary and specific granules. SNAP-23 was translocated to the cell surface, colocalizing with syntaxin 6, on neutrophil activation. In vitro binding studies established that SNAP-23 binds to syntaxin 6. Coimmunoprecipitation assays indicated that SNAP-23 interacts with syntaxin 6 in vivo, and this interaction was dramatically increased on neutrophil activation. Antibodies against SNAP-23 inhibited Ca++ and GTP-γ-S–induced exocytosis of CD67-enriched specific granules, but they hardly affected exocytosis of the CD63-enriched azurophilic granules, when introduced into electropermeabilized neutrophils. Anti–syntaxin 6 antibodies prevented exocytosis of both CD67- and CD63-enriched granules in electropermeabilized neutrophils. These data show that syntaxin 6 and SNAP-23 are involved in human neutrophil exocytosis, demonstrating that vesicle SNAP receptor-target SNAP receptor (v-SNARE– t-SNARE) interactions modulate neutrophil secretion. Syntaxin 6 acts as a target for secretion of specific and azurophilic granules, whereas SNAP-23 mediates specific granule secretion.

Involvement of SNAP-23 and syntaxin 6 in human neutrophil exocytosis

AbstractTo understand the molecular basis of exocytosis in human neutrophils, the role of syntaxin 6 and SNAP-23 in neutrophil degranulation was examined. Human syntaxin 6 was cloned and identified as a 255-amino acid protein with a carboxy-terminal transmembrane region and two coiled-coil domains. Syntaxin 6 was localized mainly in the plasma membrane of human resting neutrophils, whereas SNAP-23 was located primarily in the mobilizable tertiary and specific granules. SNAP-23 was translocated to the cell surface, colocalizing with syntaxin 6, on neutrophil activation. In vitro binding studies established that SNAP-23 binds to syntaxin 6. Coimmunoprecipitation assays indicated that SNAP-23 interacts with syntaxin 6 in vivo, and this interaction was dramatically increased on neutrophil activation. Antibodies against SNAP-23 inhibited Ca++ and GTP-γ-S–induced exocytosis of CD67-enriched specific granules, but they hardly affected exocytosis of the CD63-enriched azurophilic granules, when introduced into electropermeabilized neutrophils. Anti–syntaxin 6 antibodies prevented exocytosis of both CD67- and CD63-enriched granules in electropermeabilized neutrophils. These data show that syntaxin 6 and SNAP-23 are involved in human neutrophil exocytosis, demonstrating that vesicle SNAP receptor-target SNAP receptor (v-SNARE– t-SNARE) interactions modulate neutrophil secretion. Syntaxin 6 acts as a target for secretion of specific and azurophilic granules, whereas SNAP-23 mediates specific granule secretion.

Inhibition of insulin release by synthetic peptides shows that the H3 region at the C-terminal domain of syntaxin-1 is crucial for Ca(2+)- but not for guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate-induced secretion.

Recently, we have described the presence and possible role of syntaxin in pancreatic beta-cells by using monoclonal antibodies [F. Martin, F. Moya, L. M. Gutierrez, J.A. Reig, B. Soria (1995) Diabetologia 38, 860-863]. In order to characterize further the importance of specific domains of this protein, the functional role of a particular region of the syntaxin-1 molecule has now been investigated by using two synthetic peptides, SynA and SynB, corresponding to two portions of the H3 region at the C-terminal domain of the protein, residues 229-251 and 197-219 respectively. Functional experiments carried out in permeabilized pancreatic beta-cells demonstrate that these peptides inhibit Ca(2+)-dependent insulin release in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is specific because peptides of the same composition but random sequence do not show the same effect. In contrast with this inhibitory effect on Ca(2+)-induced secretion, both peptides increase basal release. However, under the same conditions, SynA and SynB do not affect guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate-induced insulin release. These results demonstrate that specific portions of the H3 region of syntaxin-1 are involved in critical protein-protein interactions specifically during Ca(2+)-induced insulin secretion.

Role of syntaxin in mouse pancreatic beta cells.

The role of syntaxin 1, a protein involved in the docking of synaptic vesicles at presynaptic active zones, has been investigated in pancreatic islet cells. Using two different monoclonal antibodies we have shown that syntaxin 1 is present in the pancreatic islet cell microsomal fraction. Furthermore, functional experiments demonstrate that anti-syntaxin antibodies inhibit CA(2+)-dependent insulin secretion in permeabilized islet cells. These data indicate that syntaxin 1 is present in the pancreatic beta cell and it is likely to play a functional role in the exocytosis of secretory granules.