Structural insights into modulation and selectivity of transsynaptic neurexin-LRRTM interaction

Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 27;9(1):3964. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06333-8.

Abstract

Leucine-rich repeat transmembrane neuronal proteins (LRRTMs) function as postsynaptic organizers that induce excitatory synapses. Neurexins (Nrxns) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans have been identified as presynaptic ligands for LRRTMs. Specifically, LRRTM1 and LRRTM2 bind to the Nrxn splice variant lacking an insert at the splice site 4 (S4). Here, we report the crystal structure of the Nrxn1β-LRRTM2 complex at 3.4 Å resolution. The Nrxn1β-LRRTM2 interface involves Ca2+-mediated interactions and overlaps with the Nrxn-neuroligin interface. Together with structure-based mutational analyses at the molecular and cellular levels, the present structural analysis unveils the mechanism of selective binding between Nrxn and LRRTM1/2 and its modulation by the S4 insertion of Nrxn.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / chemistry*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / chemistry*
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • LRRTM2 protein, human
  • LRRTM2 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • NRXN1 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Nrxn1 protein, mouse